Reading through all of these comments revived so much of what Christmas means to me, so thank you OFA and all of it's readers who shared. I was at the cemetery where my youngest son is buried and arranging a small Christmas tree for his grave when some people came to do the same at a loved one's grave. They said they use all natural elements to make the arrangements, fir, pine, cotton, leaves, nuts, etc. It was simply beautiful just even knowing they had taken time and used their creativity to do so. Integrating our earth's resources into our Christmas celebrations, large or small, is a privilege we all should take advantage of. Making Christmas gifts of baked goods and candy or a simple homemade ornament goes a lot further in understanding the meaning of Christmas compared to purchased lavish material items seen on television. I believe you will find many, many people, of all ages, who cannot recall most of their gifts from one year to the next, but a special moment of an interchange with a friend, family member or perhaps a stranger about Christmas, they will remember. It's all about relationship and simple is better than complexity.
Oh, and as for those at the cemetery visitors, they sung Christmas carols at the graveside of their loved one, while I and possibly others, cried in joy for God's blessings we have and for the special moment of "feeling" what Christmas is truly all about.
Reading through all of these comments revived so much of what Christmas means to me, so thank you OFA and all of it's readers who shared. I was at the cemetery where my youngest son is buried and arranging a small Christmas tree for his grave when some people came to do the same at a loved one's grave. They said they use all natural elements to make the arrangements, fir, pine, cotton, leaves, nuts, etc. It was simply beautiful just even knowing they had taken time and used their creativity to do so. Integrating our earth's resources into our Christmas celebrations, large or small, is a privilege we all should take advantage of. Making Christmas gifts of baked goods and candy or a simple homemade ornament goes a lot further in understanding the meaning of Christmas compared to purchased lavish material items seen on television. I believe you will find many, many people, of all ages, who cannot recall most of their gifts from one year to the next, but a special moment of an interchange with a friend, family member or perhaps a stranger about Christmas, they will remember. It's all about relationship and simple is better than complexity.
Oh, and as for those at the cemetery visitors, they sung Christmas carols at the graveside of their loved one, while I and possibly others, cried in joy for God's blessings we have and for the special moment of "feeling" what Christmas is truly all about.