Christmas Spirit

Thank you Syd for this fine looking award.  I can't read what it says, but I bet it is nice because Syd wouldn't send me something snarky.

So, on this morning when I thought I had finally run out of things to write about (after 1185 posts), I have something to write about.  

There are lots of rules and if I could ever figure out how to cut and paste into blogger on a mac, I would post them, but I can't figure it out, so I will just write five things I love about Christmas.  I also won't tag anyone because the people I would normally tag aren't the kind who are nuts about Christmas.  

1.  Christmas is the birthday of Jesus.  I love this.  I love the Nativity narrative.  I love the humble birth of a King.  I love Mary's "yes."  I love Joseph's "yes."  To impossible tasks given them by an Angel.  These humble people just said "yes."  

2.  I love that the whole world is lit up in celebration of this birthday.  I think most people who celebrate "Christmas" don't think they are celebrating the birth of Jesus, but I think they are. 

3.  I love the darkness of the Advent Colors.  I love the vestments of purple and the dark church and the candles and the overarching spirit of "waiting."  

 4.  I love the brilliant white and gold at Christmas morning Mass.

5.  I love the little candles in every window.  The tradition is that this is a message that Jesus is welcome in this house.  

6.  I love the 6:30 a.m. AA meeting before Mass on Christmas morning.  I love to see people who have survived their first sober Christmas and found out it is more than drunken parties and expensive gifts.  

7.  I love to look around the AA meeting room on Christmas morning and think of the hearts that won't be broken today because someone's loved one is sitting at a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous and they may later show up for church, show up for the family, be at dinner, not tell off their mother in law, not knock over the Christmas tree, etc.  You get the picture.  

And just because I am Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary... 

I cannot stand the commercials for the Lexus in the driveway on Christmas morning.  I cannot stand the pressure that gets put on us to make this day something so special by spending tons and tons of money we don't have.  

The most special Christmases I have had have been very humble.  The gifts my kids still have and love?  The ones I hand knit for them.  

Christmas is tough on alcoholics.  It is a good time to hang at an AA club if you are new.  It is a good time to make your face seen at AA meetings if you are not new.  This will be my 25th sober Christmas.  I am so grateful for that.