It’s Christmas, and Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. From the time I got that circus truck with the plastic zoo animals in individual cages when I was five to wrapping up presents in a tearing hurry a couple of days ago so I could get them to the east coast in time, my enthusiasm for the holiday has rarely flagged.
2009 has been a difficult year, there’s no denying it. On the global (war, fraudulent elections), national (foreclosures, job loss, plus who can actually be against health care, for Pete’s sake?) and personal fronts, this has been a challenging, exhausting, and – let’s be honest – occasionally hopeless stretch.
But Christmas still comes like clockwork, regardless of surrounding circumstances, bringing with it little sparkling lights in the darkness, the opportunity to give generously to others even if we’re not sure we’re up to it, and – if we can look past the difficulties, the disappointments and the snarled traffic – the chance to see ourselves as part of a larger, hopeful whole in a world rife with small miracles.
That’s what I am going to be focusing on from inside my mountain of to-do lists, wrapping supplies and as-yet-unbaked baked goodies.
May your Christmas Eve and your Christmas Day be full of excitement and joy.
Merry Christmas everyone!
(Thank you jimsabis for the cardinal.)
Displaced 
I like your attitude…have a wonderful day and a good new year!