Let Christmas Eve be full of hope, expectation (12/24/07)

Christmas Eve.

For some it is just another day. For many it is a day of hope and expectation. Santa comes tonight. A child was born approximately 2007 years ago; a child who shook the world with the notion that God loves us.

Santa Claus is readying his sleigh for the monumental journey. Elves are scurrying and scouring the stores for last-minute gifts. Angels are preparing to celebrate the birth of a savior.

There is no conflict between Santa and Jesus in my world. They both promise great rewards. They both want us to be "good for goodness sake." They both realize that we are not perfect and they love us anyway.

Anyone who has ever seen a child derive more pleasure from an empty box than from the toy inside knows that the amount spent on a gift is irrelevant. Wonderful presents can be had for very little or no money. It really is the thought that counts.

The hard part is knowing someone well enough to know what will bring a smile to their hearts. I always think I am easy to buy for because I see so many things that I want at Christmas time. Very little of what I'd like to have is expensive. Most of it is practical. Some of my wishes remain hidden deep within my soul, never to see the light of day.

Yet, I have heard people say that I am hard to shop for. I suppose I am, in a way. I don't let people into my life. You say, wait, I enter your world every Monday. No, you don't. Not really.

You see what I want you to see. I try not to let you see the insecure, incompetent or downright evil parts of me. They are there - right on the "naughty" side of Santa's list. Nor do I show you the parts that are on the top of the "good" list.

I would rather give presents than receive them, except for family. Family can give me anything they want. I am as pleased with a hug and a bashful, "I ran short this year and didn't buy you anything" present as well as beautiful hand-made necklaces and over-priced whatevers. I keep telling them "plants!" but since they think I already have too much flora in the house, I seldom get more leafy things. It's not like I have room for them anyway or that the cold December weather won't nip them so hard they die.

Christmas Eve is when all the hopes for the upcoming celebration build to an almost tangible thing. There is hope that the desired present will be under the tree the next morning. There is hope that Uncle Too-Friendly an Aunt Too-Stuffy will behave for just one day. There is hope that things will work out and for once will live up to our expectations.

It never works out that way. Someone always gets grumpy. Someone needs a nap. Someone lets his or her disappointment show. The elves do their best but their best is never good enough.

That is why we need something besides presents and family. That is why we need to stop and take a quiet moment to whisper, "Happy Birthday, Jesus" to the one who started this whole thing in the first place.

We should all remember that we are commemorating a birthday. We celebrate by spending time with those we love. We celebrate by giving tokens of that love to each other. We celebrate by doing our best to contribute to "peace on earth, good will towards men."

We personify that goodwill as a chubby guy in a red suit. He distributes presents without asking anything in return. Too bad he only gives to those who can afford it, but there are flaws in every system.

Christmas Eve is the time when all the hopes for the morrow materialize. Christmas Eve is the calm before the storm, the quiet before the party, the last chance we have to prepare.

It is when Santa is the busiest and Jesus is smiling down on us as we get ready to show just how much we really do love and appreciate each other.

I hope your Christmas is everything you want it to be. Don't forget to whisper, "Happy Birthday," to the one who is honored this holy day. Merry Christmas from me to you.[[In-content Ad]]