Monthly Musing – December 2015 – Christmas sparkle

It seems that this year – for adults at least – Christmas has lost some of its sparkle. We wonder how we can celebrate when there is so much fear and violence in the world. How can we enjoy ourselves when there are people who are suffering?

Actually, I believe that the world’s situation isn’t any different because it is Christmas, it’s just that we are more aware of it because of the contrast with our celebrations. There are always people who have nothing in both our own country and across the world, and there is always something to be afraid of if we choose to be afraid.

Christmas is about the Bible story of Mary and Joseph travelling far from home to Bethlehem and asking for a room at the inn.
It isn’t a story of fear, of people being turned away at borders or taking someone’s job, it’s a story of hope. Mary and Joseph are people who have nothing and although at first they are turned away, they are eventually helped by the innkeeper, found by the Wise Men and shepherds who came to see the baby born in the stable, and our Christmas story is one of joy, celebration and light. Without hope, there can be no celebration.

How are Mary and Joseph different from the people of today who have nothing and need our help? You only have to look at the television and the newspapers to see how people are giving their help. Food, clothing and utensils for refugees. The gift of time to elderly people who would otherwise be without visitors. Food and supplies for people in our own country who cannot survive without the kindness of others. Our instinct is to be a kind nation, we are people who want to make life better for others, and I think that is something to be remembered and celebrated.

Martin Luther King wrote, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. Marianne Williamson writes, “We are all meant to shine … And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”  Love and light, the sentiments of Christmas, wouldn’t you agree?  If we can show them to our families, we can show them to others, and for the most part, many of us do.

I don’t think that Christmas is losing its sparkle at all.  It may be a different kind of sparkle to the one that we have come to expect, but that may not be a bad thing.  Christmas isn’t always about “what can I have?” but also about “what can I give?”.  I think that if we look closely, we can see sparkles all around us, but instead of them being provided from elsewhere, they come from inside us.  That’s a special gift indeed.

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24 Responses

  1. Elena says:

    Beautiful, thank you very much.

  2. Bethany says:

    This reminds me of that song–"this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine…"
    Lovely post!

  3. Jo says:

    I agree. We're a very giving nation, which is just as well with so many in need. I think Christmas loses a bit of its shine as our children get older, I used to love all the magic when they believed in Santa.

  4. Christina says:

    What a thoughtful post Christine! Thank you. I feel the need for a bit of sparkle particularly because the world seems to fall apart. I shall look for that sparkle inside me and share it with my loved ones. x

  5. Lucy says:

    Lovey. Well said. X

  6. Angel Jem says:

    Love your post. I'll be thinking about this for a while.

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Thank you! I think we get caught up in looking at the gloomy side of things sometimes instead of seeing what good we do every day without even thinking about it. We need to get better at appreciating our own efforts! 🙂 xx

  7. The Prayerful Weaver says:

    Thanks Christine, for highlighting the real meaning of Christmas, and for sharing with us the many ways in which love triumphs over all the evil and darkness in the world. xx

    • Winwick Mum says:

      I think it's easier to be nice than to be horrible, to smile rather than frown .. obviously there are some days when that's not so easy at all but it's always something to aspire to! xx

  8. Julie says:

    A little love goes a long way…..my grandmother used to say that.

  9. Amy at love made my home says:

    Beautiful, wonderful, and hopeful! My advent post for Sunday this week is about hope, so I have been thinking a lot about it, and you are so right, without hope what is there. xx

  10. Run Home To Crochet says:

    A lovely post xx

  11. Anonymous says:

    Wise words. I've been thinking about this as I put up our Christmas tree with our little people.

  12. Unknown says:

    Thank you for the reminder and you are right!

  13. Sue @ Quilting the Green Star says:

    Thank you for this post. I have found the news this week overwhelming and your words are very wise. It's easy to get a bit down about the sad things and very good to look for the light in people. I am also so inspired by the basic sock pattern, have bought some wool and am about to embark on my first pair thanks to following you from Attic 24,
    Happy Advent,
    Sue

    • Winwick Mum says:

      That's great, Sue, you're going to love wearing your new socks! Thanks for visiting and your lovely words xx

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