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Inspiration

Christmas Should Be the Cure

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Why Christmas should cure people.

christmas wonder
Christmas should be a time of wonder, and if it isn’t, look within yourself.

It is easy to see the problems with the world today, life’s issues seem to force themselves into our consciousness.  There are those without enough to eat, no family, no home and no hope of anything any better.  This is impossible to fix completely but Christmas gives us our best opportunity to make changes in the quality of life for all people.  How come we so often miss the mark?  Why is it that so many people are not really happy on Christmas?

Commercialism Robs Gratitude

greedmas
Too often it seems Christmas lists look like this. Greed is not good.

The increase in commercialism around this time has made Christmas the season of expectations not of gift giving and gratitude.  People, especially young people, spend the holiday wrapped up in what is being wrapped up for them.  Rather than being concerned with the feeling of Christmas which has always been love, they are worried about what is in this for them.

I feel old when I say I remember a different time, but I do.  There were small gifts that were really appreciated by those receiving them.  I remember not only receiving gifts that were thoughtful, and just what I wanted, and I remember searching for just that perfect gift that cost under five dollars for my parents or siblings.  It was a simpler time, even though Christmas was commercialized then, it was nowhere near the media advertising blitz it is today.

It is no wonder people are so messed up around Christmas, if your intake of expensive electronic gizmos and gadgets doesn’t equal the price of a small import car, the holiday is a failure.  Where did we go wrong?

The Magic of Christmas

gratitude of Christmas
Try some of these thoughts and emotions this year.

It doesn’t have to be that way, and it is simple to reclaim.  If you are Christian then remember the actual meaning of the holiday.  The message is one of love, power, and wonder.  If you aren’t Christian but like the holiday, simply remember that the act of giving is a good thing, and has the power to transcend culture, distance, and differences of all kinds.  Giving is a two-part transaction, which should never be forgotten.  On the one hand, there is the giving of a gift.  It simply has to be given with an open heart, to make someone else happy.  That is it.

The second part of the transaction is receiving, with gratitude, and appreciation, that someone else in the world cares enough about you to take the time to find you a gift. There was a time in life, that I took gifts for granted myself, but age and time have made receiving gifts of any kind a wonder.  I appreciate the thought, even more than the gift itself, because that is the real treasure anyway.

This is the magic that comes with this season each year and seems to be lost in the commercialism and greed that pervades the holiday.  The act of giving is powerful, but the feeling of gratitude for the gifts and love of another can carry you to new heights.  Having a gratitude in your heart can allow you to find the strength to make it through tough times because it is not really how much crap you accumulate in this life, it is how much others care about you and your presence in their lives that matters in the end.

It Will All Be OK

So when you start to feel overwhelmed with the season and find that you are getting frustrated with the commercialism and greed that seems to be all around you, then you need to look inside yourself and find the spirit of giving and the gratitude for all that you have.  If that is your focus you will have a much more pleasant holiday season and life.

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Family

Happy Birthday Helen

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Helen Vinal Hilton
Say Happy Birthday To the Greatest Grandmother In History

Today is March 2, 2018, which is not just another day on the calendar, it is the day that my grandmother, Helen Vinal Hilton was born. She would have been 96 this year.

I am sure that most people think great things about their grandmothers, I was fortunate to have two great ones, and to have a positive relationship with both.

Now they have both passed away, there are certain times when their memory comes to my mind more strongly than others, March 2 is one of those days for me.

To give you a little background about Helen, she was without a doubt the sweetest, kindest, most encouraging, loving, and funniest person I have ever met.

We always had a special bond since I can remember.  I have vivid memories of her playing games with us when we were young, you name it we played it, cards, board games.  She always made sure there were things for us to do when we visited with her.

I remember her taking us to movies, to visit Santa Clause, and to the Circus.  (I never liked clowns, and probably wouldn’t have survived and enjoyed the circus if it wasn’t for her. )

One of the most incredible things, my siblings and I all remember about both our father’s parents was the unquestioning welcome they always gave you when you showed up.  I would never have considered ever calling to see if they were home, or giving them any warning at all, I just showed up, as did my brothers and sister.

Not once did I ever feel like it was an intrusion.  They were always, truly, happy to see me and we always had a great visit.  They usually involved cookies, but we always could just talk about things.  What it was like growing up for her, what World War II was like for them, what various members of the family were up to.

It seemed like we always stayed connected to relatives we didn’t see.  Very often through those conversations.  When my Grandfather was alive, he would chime in as well, and after he passed, Helen and I talked more and more about life.  I valued those conversations then, but treasure the memory of them now.  She was a great lady, great grandmother, and a great friend.  I wouldn’t have traded her and her memory for anything else in the world.

So on this day, I am taking a moment to remember, and send some of the love and attention that Helen always gave to me, back to her.  I hope that she knows that no matter whatever else she did in life, she was the Greatest Grandmother In History!

Even though she has been gone for over 15 years, my memories of her and all of her acts of kindness and her melodic laugh live on in my heart.  Happy Birthday Grammy! How do can someone ever say thank you for all that you did and the great example you set for all of us who loved you.

Thankful for the gift my angels gave me.

-Everlast