Holidailies: Do They Know It's Christmastime At All?

"It's Christmastime
There's no need to be afraid
At Christmastime, we let in light and we banish shade
And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world at Christmastime"

Every year we say that we are going to downsize Christmas. Every year we vow to spend less and do more. How does it always get away from us? I think it is because of guilt.

But say a prayer

Pray for the other ones
At Christmastime it's hard, but when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging
chimes of doom
Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you

We want to teach the kids to be grateful for what they have, to see that they are so privileged and lucky to have a mom and dad who love them, to have family close, to see that the roof overhead and food in their belly isnt something that every kid has. It's a hard lesson to understand when all you have known is a life of "have" instead of "have not". I am not looking for excuses for us, but it is true that we buy in excess to make up for the unhappiness that perhaps we feel. We feel guilt for working long hours, guilt for not wanting to get down on the floor and play Barbie again, guilt at short temper flares and unfulfilled dreams.

And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmastime
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
(Oooh) Where nothing ever grows
No rain nor rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?

Of course life could always be worse--but on the other hand, life could also be better. What will it take to make that shift from trying to compensate for the little things that I know in my head matter so much more than the material ones and just doing it? I wish I knew--maybe it would help them to see that even though the kids in African might not know that it is Christmastime with lots of presents and Santa and snow, they might be happier if they appreciate the little things around them.

(Here's to you) raise a glass for everyone
(Here's to them) underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?

Time and time again we hear stories from our globe trotting friends who tell us how much more appreciative the people are elsewhere when they receive the smallest thing. They take it into their heart with the knowledge that, for this moment, gratitude is the most important emotion and the world is filled with goodwill.

For them, perhaps, Christmastime is a feeling that arrives anytime of the year and is not something that needs holly berries and a trip to the mall.