From The Heart
By Paulette Conolly-Taylor
Christmas is almost here believe it or not and we have to either embrace the season or treat it as just another ordinary holiday.
In the midst of the gift giving, church cantatas, caroling, parties, Santa Claus parades and more, I wonder if we as individuals, myself included, have ever just sat back and reflected on what truly makes an amazing Christmas.
As a child I looked forward to getting those shiny red apples, bags of nuts, Fruit cake ordered from National BellasHess and if Daddy could make it home off the ship, a new dress, shoes, socks and hair catches that matched, and if he did not come home a parcel post package and a telegram.
I looked forward to Norwester's to bring the sand, and the full moon to shine brightly so I could back the sand to earn a few shillings to get something special for the older ones in the family and also buy my stash of paradise plums.
I also relished standing on top of the porch to see when the cow was killed so that the cooking in the caboose could start, the kitchen floor was scrubbed clean for the kitchen dance, and who could forget combing cobwebs out of your hair after you crawled from underneath the house floor to retrieve the cassava and yams that had been put there to keep when you brought them off the bluff out of the plantation (grounds).
Of course I learned my part for the church Christmas program and knew the Christmas story from being taught it in Sunday School but now that I'm all grown up, the meaning for me has changed.
I'm not perfect, neither am I a prude but I get all warm and fuzzy inside when I think of the joy that Mary must have felt when Jesus was born.
I also think the way God let the story unfolds show that we all fit into the puzzle of life together and that the innocence and purity he represents portrays the goodness in all of us.
I've learned as an adult if you can bring extra happiness to someone especially at this time of year, show more love than you normally do and truly mean it, put smiles on kids faces and just share yourself, laugh more and be contented in whatever you have, that's Christmas.
I personally truly believe that if God was on earth today he would not fuss about all the festivities, he would just be himself and share his love.
For Christmas 2002 let's all pledge to give more of ourselves in a meaningful way so that we can touch the lives of those we come in contact with daily.
Happy Holidays everyone and I wish for you an abundance of blessings.