The Gift

"What is Christmas? It is the tenderness for the past,

courage for the present, hope for the future."

Agnes M. Pahro

Intentionally, I honor the birth of the Christ Child with reverence and prayer; but admittedly, my religious bond is with an adult Jesus who was ever present. On the other hand, my heart always yearned for Santa. It was never about the gifts, but the magic of the mysterious man who wanted to make children happy. 

And over time, I noticed the impact of both Jesus the Christ and Santa in individual ways.  Although not equivalent to each other, both images were of kind hearted men, embracing all children no matter their origin.  With open hearts, in their own special way, each one convinced me about acceptance and unconditional love.  

We can honor the spirit of both men and women as we move forward into a New Year. Christmas, therefore, can be an active time for healing. We can release old expectations, accept the present, and with courage, step into the future. With a new sense of wholeness, we can be a gift to each other. 

No matter your faith or preferred ritual,  I wish you a very Happy Holiday!