Christmas means toys and school plays. It means friends and family dropping in and warm fires and good things to eat. Christmas is a time for remembering the joys we’ve had and the hopes we have for the future. It is the very day of hope for that is the day we honor the birth of Christ if we are Christians. He grew to be the only hope of a sad and troubled world.

It is Christmas when you see the Salvation Army’s red pots with the bell ringers. I love to hear their ringing to remind us that many others are not as fortunate as we. I love to see the U.S. Marines with their drive, “Toys for Tots.” Do you remember the commercial where a Marine is standing guard in the Capital Rotunda? A little boy walks up and talks to him about a Christmas list he has in his hand but gets no response. He tries again. No response. Then, ever so gently the tall Marine moves his open hand by his side to take the note. I cannot watch that without tears and a lump in my throat.

Whatever you do for Christmas the most important thing is to do for others. When I was little, that didn’t make sense to me. Now it doesn’t make sense to give presents to people who don’t need them and too many times don’t appreciate them. In a society where “too much ain’t enough” let the wise words of Christ come through to you this season. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Look around…the needs are there….lets do all we can to make someone else’s Christmas memorable….in a good way.

Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther