For weeks, everyone has been rushing about in anticipation of Christmas.
Today, it is only a memory.
A collective sigh can be heard throughout the land!
We love this beautuful holiday, but in far too many ways, it has become the most hectic time of the year.
Even those who long to focus on the spiritual meaning find it difficult or impossible to avoid the commercial influences.
Yet, this year, I've begun seeing this whirlwind of consumption in a new way.
This year, I've been moved by the motive behind all the buying and bustle.
The motive is giving.
In recent weeks, most people have not been walking the malls, selfishly in search of things for themselves.
Rather, they've been hunting for things to give others.
The attitude of generosity actually seems to have grow with the season, expressing itself in everything from the purchase of gifts to charitable donations.
One might say that we've been consumed with the desire to give!
In spite of the stress, in spite of the poor economy, in spite of all the negativity the world scene offers, at Christmas time, we've given more to others than at any other time of the year.
Small gifts, large gifts... cheap gifts expensive gifts...cookies, candy, sausage, fruit, flowers, music, cards and acts of kindness...all given because of Christmas.
Let's give human goodness credit where it is due.
And what happens now...this day after Christmas and on the ones that follow?
Without Christmas to motivate our generosity, can we find ways to extend that same spirit of giving into our daily lives?
Like the Child, whose birth we've celebrated, grew from infancy to maturity, can our spirit of thoughtfulness grow from its Christmas expression, to a fulltime attitude of kindness?
What a different world it would be if we all carried our Christmas spirit into the day after...and the day after that.
Peace, Sandra
