Christmas 2009

I’m wondering if we will see many smiles this Christmas season. We have a bad economy. Many believe the country is going in the wrong political direction, and we have less—for the first time in our remembrance—than our parents had.

Having been a gloomy Gus, let’s turn our attention to why we should be smiling. Maybe it’s because we have more time with our families right now. Perhaps it’s because we are sure that our family get-together will be well attended this year. Or perhaps it’s just because of the season. Thinking about the aromas of the kitchen during Christmas, brings a smile to my face and yours too. What could be better than two holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, within just a month of each other? Maybe you will be celebrating Chanukah.

Maybe we should have the anticipation of little children looking for a visit that brings them a gift.

I’ve often thought about the Biblical story of the birth of Christ. Most of us have heard the story since childhood, but it still affects me and I bet you. I think about the shepherds looking after their sheep up in the hills near Bethlehem. Think about that dark night—no electric street lights in Bethlehem. Maybe there was a gentle glow off in the distance. Remember there were many people in Bethlehem on that night because of the Roman census procedure.

Shepherds settled down with their flocks were startled and scared when an angelic messenger appeared to announce God’s gift to people. Can you imagine the brilliance of that moment? Light like no living man had ever seen. Scared them out of their wits. God’s announcement came to men who were not well thought of by the people of Bethlehem because of their job. Why them and why an angelic announcement? I leave that thought to your understanding.

Some of us will be celebrating Christmas and some Chanukah. Chanukah is referred to as the Festival of Lights—it commemorates a miracle of light for the Jewish people. Our Christian holiday celebrates the birth of Jesus—that same occasion announced to the shepherds by the angel and the angelic choir over 2000 years ago.

Our celebrations are religious in nature, but our good feelings ought not to stop at the church or synagogue door. Our smiles and our good feelings about each other should spread throughout the year so that we share the same feelings of warmth, compassion and charity all year long.

Whether you celebrate Christmas or Chanukah, or don’t celebrate the season at all, let me leave you with this thought: God uses your hands, feet and voice. A demonstration of charity and love is far better than a definition of them.

I’m smiling and I hope you are too because I can’t think of a better place to be for Christmas than Dacula, Georgia.

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and Happy New Year!