A Charlie Brown Style Christmas

A simple share on Facebook inspired this blog post. 
Charlie Brown, who has joined us daily since The Great Pumpkin was discovered by my kids, said it perfectly. 
It’s not what’s under the Christmas tree that matters, it’s who’s around it.
How true is that?! 

We get caught up in the commercials, online shopping, sale fliers and lists of wants. We want to be the best gift givers, the esteemed hostess and have the most festively decorated home, (we are not all Chevy Chase by the way). We want our kids to remember how generous we were. We don’t want to feel like we didn’t do enough. 

Credit cards come out of hiding and are used with the premise of…. It’s the holidays! Stress mounts & tempers flare. 
However…..
If we can just take a few minutes to stop. Take a deep breath and think about why we are celebrating this season.

Depending on your beliefs, faith and spirituality; this season may be about the Christ Child. His birth and the simple beauty that surrounded Him, Mary and Joseph in the manger so long ago. 

Perhaps, it’s about the family gatherings. The laughter and food. The exchange of gifts and the joy of being with loved ones. Even if our loved ones are a pet, or only with us via phone or email.

Or maybe, for you, it’s the time of year you reach out to those around you. Those less fortunate than you.  Donations of food, money and time fill your holidays with purpose and satisfaction.

For we must remember, that there are those who do not know the story of Christ’s Birth. Those who have no family, laughter or food. And those who can’t even fathom reaching out to another, for their own world is too dark.

So as we go through our busy days, shopping, wrapping, baking and gathering with friends and family…..

Be grateful. Be aware at how much good you have in your life.
Hold the sarcastic comment, the cranky face.

And back to Charlie Brown, 
It’s not what’s under the Christmas tree that matters, it’s who’s around it.
So surround your tree with what matters most to you.
Whatever or whoever it may be.

​Merry Christmas!

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