Week 50 2013 Thanksmas

During the last two months of the year we celebrate two of the best family holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Both of these events bring family and friends together like few others.  We eat together, share together, love each other, and at least for one day in each of these months, we get along.  I thoroughly enjoy these times.  Taking time to reflect on what we are thankful for, while knowing that we should be doing this every day, is good.  Sometimes the feeling lingers for awhile.  We might even go to church in order to express our thankfulness toward God.  It gives us a warm, fuzzy feeling.

While we complain about the commercialism of the Christmas season, we take our part in promoting the frenzy.  The joy of giving is alive and well.  It seems we cannot give enough, as we max out our credit cards, spend hours in long lines, and fight holiday traffic.  Many of us will reflect on the greatest gift given and the night of His birth.  Even though the Christmas dinner will be enjoyed, the highlight will be the opening of gifts and the stockings that were hung with care.  Pictures and videos will be snapped and memories made.  It’s all good!

There is no excuse for spurning either of these holidays.  Fortunately, the number of real-life Scrooges are few in number.  Whether one is a believer or not, these holidays are just plain fun.  Aside from the frivolity, and the warmth between family and friends, these point to the end of the year, promising a new beginning with the coming year.  Everyone looks forward to a fresh start, the opportunity to enjoy what a new year has in store.  So, I am thankful for Christmas, following Thanksgiving, hoping that everyone has a Happy New Year!