The True Meaning of Christmas

For those of us who were raised in the Christian tradition, there are many meanings of Christmas. We are happy to light the advent candles at the Christmas Eve service at our church this year, so you can be sure that one meaning of Christmas is in our hearts and minds. Ann went to a party today sponsored by the Wauconda Schools PTO. Guests were encouraged to take Christmas wishes from the various trees set up at one of the PTO member's homes and help someone have a better Christmas. Ann was invited by our PTO and School Board friend Carey to come this year and she found six or seven wishes that she decided to make come true. These are all students in the school district who are on free and/or reduced lunch and whose families have requested some help this year. So tomorrow we are shopping for a boys jacket (XL), some size 6 tennis shoes, and 4 or 5 gift cards for older kids at Target or MacDonalds. Ann was impressed by the organization and dedication of the PTO ladies. They are a truly tremendous group of people. And so a second meaning of Christmas occupies some of this weekend and next week. Which leaves us the third and in my mind equally important meaning of Christmas. Probably the message is given best in a Christmas movie we watched often when the boys were younger.   You are invited to watch the entire video, but the meaningful part occurs in the first two minutes.  
           

               

I agree whole - heartedly with the big spiny guy (Herb, I think). One of the most important things about Christmas is the snacks. We have already done Christmas cookies once this season (mainly for Mike and Tammy at Thanksgiving, since they won't be here for Christmas this year) and I am excited about trying some other Christmas cookie recipes - peanut butter blossoms are a favorite, along with snickerdoodles and pinwheels. Or maybe some candy, like buckeyes. We used to devote a night to baking cookies with Mary and Dave and all the kids, but it gets harder and harder to schedule now. So we'll have to forge ahead on our own. I expect Ann will be pretty sick of cookies by the time we're done. But it's time for her to step up and take one for the team. And by team, I mean me. And maybe Nate and Dave if we can get some cookies delivered to them, too. Merry Christmas!!