How to Share Christmas, Part 2

How to Share Christmas, Part 2
Wednesday, December 13, 2023 by Susan Lyttek

Last week I started on this two-part post about how to share Christmas. But what do I mean by that? How would we define ‘sharing Christmas’?

This week, I hope I am taking my own advice. Gary and I are on a cruise with a couple thousand strangers. How can I share Christmas with all I interact with and make their holiday season just a bit better?

I think, first of all, of the reformed Scrooge. After convicted by the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, the former miser said, “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.” And Tiny Tim, who never found sharing Christmas difficult, and kept it easily, always said, “God bless us… Everyone!”

Sharing Christmas is realizing you are blessed and passing on the blessing. It is the natural outflow of the golden rule. When we love God with all our heart, soul and mind, so much love spills out that loving our neighbors as ourselves comes more naturally. I’m not saying it’s always easy to share Christmas, but when we love God and allow him to love us in return, we have the love reserves so that we can.

But how, practically, can we purpose to share Christmas?

If God brings someone to mind, call them, text them or send a card. You can message on social media or e-mail, too, but the first three options are a tad more personal. The phone call has the advantage of immediate human sound contact, (and who knows what your friend had to cope with at that moment?), and the card, letter or text can be saved and re-read if needed.
Open your home. We don’t do this that often, but when we heard a family’s kitchen would not be ready for Thanksgiving and that they planned to go to a restaurant, we invited them over. Same thing when an older couple’s only son would be away at the holidays. Or another family when their plans fell apart. As you feel led, invite others to join in with you so that they might have Christmas.
Talk with people. My favorite people to talk with at this time of year are the Salvation Army volunteers. I can’t resist dropping a dollar or some change into the red bin just so that I can learn a little about them. Even if I’m rushed, sharing a smile and a Merry Christmas makes me feel better. For an introvert like me, the talking to others does not come easily. But this time of year, I find it easier to smile, to be sociable and to be genuinely appreciative of all those I interact with. On the ship, I hope, like our last cruise, to develop new friendships. Even if not, we will be friendly and open to those we meet.
Love, forgive and try to give a little extra grace. It’s a sweet and precious time, but it’s also a busy one. We can get harried and stressed and let that, instead of God’s love, flow out. When hitting snags in my in-person Christmas shopping this year, I thought of Christina working in retail and all the zany people she has to deal with. I try to remember that the cashiers and clerks waiting on me are probably doing the best they can. It is a crazy-busy time and they often encounter less-than-reasonable customers. (Or less-than-reasonable tourists on the islands!) Or they’re just tired after a long shift. Be understanding, cut them some slack… and smile.

My last suggestion is that when Christmas and New Year’s Day are over, we all purpose to try to hold onto the joy and the love those around us a bit longer. And maybe we, like Scrooge, can keep Christmas all the year.

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