The Spirit of Christmas

It's the Christmas Season, Everyone! What does this mean to you? There are so many possibilities for the true meaning of Christmas...the Spirit in which to celebrate.

Mark has care packages to get out, filled with Christmas cookies and goodies. Maggie has a party at school, for which I'm in charge...cupcakes? Check. Juice boxes? Check. Game? Check. Gift? Check.

We've put up our tree, decorated our home, wrapped a few gifts. The weather is brisk, the radio is playing carols, and, every night, we eat our supper in front of the television while watching a children's Christmas show. The Family Christmas Poem is completed and I've almost finished addressing all the Christmas Cards. This is what Christmas is about, right?

I've been especially enjoying church lately. The singing seems to be more robust and the sermons pack more of a punch. It's just that time of the year. Believing and being faithful are on everyone's list. This is the true meaning of Christmas, surely!

I've made sure our family is wearing red sweaters or green hair-bows. We've donned our Santa socks and made hot cocoa. The children have all written their letters to Santa and Mark has dutifully "mailed" them. We read the children a Christmas book each night and quote to them Moore's "Night Before Christmas". We are truly emanating the Spirit of Christmas.

Or so I thought...

There were a few more things that needed to be done...I had to buy some more gifts and yesterday evening seemed the perfect time to do it. Mom graciously offered to keep the kids while I dashed around town. I turned up the radio and "fa la la'd" with some crooner I don't even know. Boy, I was good at Christmas.

After checking my list (twice), I checked out of Wal-Mart and was patting myself on the back for having managed my time so wisely. I got a fair amount of the shopping done and would have just enough time to get home and cook a wonderful meal for my family before Mark got home from work. Yay for me!

As I was walking out of the store, I decided I'd better sit down and check the receipt...sometimes, there are errors and I didn't want to get all the way home before making that discovery. There's that breezy area at the entrance/exit with benches and I chose one next to a nice-looking elderly lady. After checking that my receipt was sadly accurate, I looked up and said hello to the lady. She smiled and said hello in return. She commented on my prudence in checking the receipt and I admitted that I'd only just started this practice after having been jipped so many times in the past.

I asked if she was cold sitting so near the doors and she said she was fine; she was just waiting for her son and daughter-in-law who had a lot of shopping to do. She couldn't be on her feet for too long so she just sat and waited for them. I got up and wished her a Merry Christmas and told her I hoped her son and daughter-in-law didn't take too long...and she thanked me...and there was a look in her eye. I couldn't leave her. I couldn't leave this woman to just sit all alone and wait.

I sat back down. She asked if I'd forgotten something. I said, "No, Ma'am. It's just not often that I meet someone so nice. Would it be alright if I sat here with you for awhile?" Her smile was so bright. She thanked me and began talking. I learned all about her family and her past. I learned about her wisdom and her experiences. She was a sharp woman of 84 years and admitted that her physical health was in decline, but she's loved and happy and well cared for. After 45 minutes, her son and daughter-in-law came to get her. I stood and said, "Oh, I suppose I need to get supper started. Thank you for humoring me. It's not often I get a chance to sit at Wisdom's feet." She had tears in her eyes and smiled up at me. She took my hand and whispered, "Thank you, Child. It's not often there is someone willing to sit with me at all. Have a Merry Christmas."

As I left Wal-Mart, behind schedule and tired, I knew. I knew that, although the Christmas Cards were addressed, the gifts were bought, the carols were being sung, and the children were watching "Rudolph"...I knew that only just then had I experienced The Spirit of Christmas.

I challenge you to find your experience as well. They are out there...right in front of you. And they are rewarding beyond belief.

Merry Christmas, Everyone. And, I mean that.