Month: December 2015

Clement Moore published T’was the Night Before Christmas in 1823. I’m not sure that he dreamed 192 years later it would be considered a Christmas classic.  You know how it starts:                                                                                                                                                                  “T’was the night before Christmas, when all through the house
not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.”

So, what do you hope St. Nicholas will leave in your stocking tonight? Here are my 2015 top five stocking stuffer nominees.  Some might fit in a stocking, some might not.

1. A pair of tickets to anything would be cool to find in my stocking. Tickets to see the Arizona Coyotes, or the Motel 6 Cactus Bowl, or to attend a ballet or symphony, or concert tickets for Adele or Blink-182 or Christina Perry or for The Eagles 27th Final Farewell Tour.

2. Hershey’s Kisses. I am not a huge chocolate guy, but that little drop of milk chocolate wrapped in that little tin foil square with that little pull tab is a perfect portion. We found these in our stocking when we were little. Maybe Santa will drop them by again tonight.

3. A 2016 presidential race with a handful of candidates to make America proud. Just over eleven months to our next election.  Only time will tell, but I don’t think our next president, regardless of who wins, is going to earn a spot on Mt. Rushmore.

4. A winning Powerball ticket. I don’t mean the $3 winner I pick-up every once in a while. How about the full blown $225 million winner?  There will be plenty to share if Santa delivers, and I promise lots of stockings will be stuffed with “lots of toys and goodies!”

5. Faith, Hope, and Love. When I wake up Christmas morning I am going to search for these in my stocking.  I may find them there, but like the Tin Woodman in The Wizard of Oz, I will find them in the heart I have in my chest. I just need to keep things oiled to keep the rust away.  Keeping things oiled and staying optimistic always seems to make the day a little more pleasant.

Those are my five.  What are yours?  Now it is time to bake the Christmas cookies. They won’t be like the sugar cookies mom baked, but maybe they will be good enough for Santa.   I mean, look at him, he isn’t skipping too many plates of cookies.  So, “with mama in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,” we will “settle our brains for a long winter’s nap.” Hopefully, Lola the dog won’t spend the night barking at the eight tiny reindeer and in the morning I won’t find a lump of coal.

“Happy Christmas to all!”

Sorry, fellow procrastinators.   I will not be joining you at Target or Wal-Mart or Macy’s this Christmas Eve.  For years I have waited until the 24th to find gifts for family and friends that hopefully would be treasured.  No more!

This year, I will do it differently.  Today, I pledge to start my shopping “early.”  I have ten days, seemingly a lifetime.  I will move cautiously through the streets, shopping districts, and malls.  I will be patient, I will smile, and I will try to complete the task happily, merrily, joyfully. I will step up to the cash registers and credit card readers while crossing items off  a well thought out gift list.  And, just like years past, shopping bags will be full of shirts, books, gift cards, and boxes of golf balls

This is “out of the box” shopping.  Only ten days left?  I think I can easily manage the time.  The gift wrapping still may not be up to department store standards, and the presents still may not quite match what was on the “Santa list.”  But I will  take pride knowing I have spent days, not hours, on the prowl trying to find the gift that will delight.

The original Christmas story is about the perfect gift.  God’s gift of unconditional love shared with humanity through the birth of Jesus.  A gift given “with no strings attached.” This gift is the love that brings joy- that feeling of happiness and belonging that dwells deep within our souls- to people we encounter daily.  Some nice things about sharing the gift of love is that there are no waiting lines, no 800 numbers to speak to customer service representatives, and no need to find a parking spot.  It has the potential to be delivered more often than that subscription to the fruit-of-the-month club.  Love given without expectation, every day and with every breath, can be given all year long.  For me it will take practice and effort and way more than ten days to even hope to get right.  Good thing I decided to start early this year.

Peace and Joy to all.   Merry Christmas!