Counting Blessing of Christmas

I was at the doctor's yesterday and a fellow patient in the waiting room engaged me in a discussion of how Christmas isn't like it use to be and doesn't seem like Christmas anymore. Now, I've heard this all my life and of course have thought it before but his words hit me like a brick all of a sudden. I hadn't really thought about it this year but immediately said Oh No, Christmas is exactly like it use to be but even better. I realized the question was a personal one and everyone's circumstances are different from year to year. And, there is some truth in the saying simply because of the evolving changes of life from Christmas to Christmas.

There are no more excited little children eagerly opening their toys to see what Santa brought in my house. My parents are gone so there is no going home for Christmas and digging into my mother's 6 layer coconut cake, yummy fresh baked Ham and watching my sisters fly in the door and immediately head for that big 20+ pound fresh ham with gusto. But the same spirit of Christmas is alive and well. That spirit is the Love of He whose birth we celebrate and His the ultimate Caring to come to earth and die for us so that we could be born again into His Father's God Family and become his brothers and sisters, all children of the Creator.

But the feeling that swept over me the strongest was how very much I had to be grateful for and how many blessings I have. I have the same problems most people have from illness, death, dying, disability, pain and all the negatives of life but I also have Love, Caring, Music, Art and above all the Love of my mate, friends and family. What more could one possibly ask for for Christmas.

So, yes, Christmas isn't what it use to be but it is still Christmas and it is as wonderful as always and for that I am truly grateful and blessed and thankful to my family and friends.

Terel