|
|
We need a little Christmas nowBy Richard C. Snell Barton County Extension Agent, agriculture I have to admit I am a little down in spirit this Christmas season. I love Christmas but some years are tougher to get geared up for the season than others. This is one of those years! I usually highlight a Christmas song in my Christmas column and the one that fits me this year is "We Need A Little Christmas" from the 1966 musical "Mame." Here are the lyrics: Haul out the holly Put up the tree before my spirit falls again Fill up the stocking I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now. For we need a little Christmas Right this very minute Candles in the window Carols at the spinet Yes, we need a little Christmas Right this very minute It hasn't snowed a single flurry But Santa, dear, we're in a hurry So climb down the chimney Turn on the brightest string of light I've ever seen Slice up the fruitcake It's time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough For I've grown a little leaner Grown a little colder Grown a little sadder Grown a little older And I need a little angel Sitting on my shoulder Need a little Christmas now For we need a little music Need a little laughter Need a little singing Ringing through the rafter And we need a little snappy "Happy ever after" Need a little Christmas now! Now in the musical, this scene and song actually take place before Thanksgiving so they really are rushing the season. On the other hand, we have snow on the ground to put us in the proper mood. The past year has been one of those where some people have a lot and others have little or none. Maybe it's always been this way but I think the down turn in the general economy has increased the spread. I saw a couple of movies that brightened my spirits this past week on the Hallmark channel. One was "Christmas in Canaan" with Billy Ray Cyrus in it. The other was "The Ultimate Gift" with James Garner, one of my favorite actors. If you get a chance, watch these. Finances or the lack there of can unfortunately cloud our view of Christmas. Often it's not how much money you make but how much you can save. If you don't have any debt, it really doesn't cost much for the necessities of life. That's easy to say unless you are out of work, like so many people in the country are. If you have no money coming in, then even the basic expenses are hard to meet. Trouble seems to follow people wherever they go. This past week in our family, we had two things happen which put a crunch on Christmas. One was an unexpected $200 auto repair bill and a $110 ticket for running a red light. The red light was not me personally, but was on icy conditions, trying to avoid slamming on the brakes to stop. Thank you to the police for being so thoughtful this Christmas season, maybe they bought toys with it. I decided after those two things we need to go back to riding horses. So, I guess I should put a horse on my Christmas list. However, that's like winning a new car and having to pay the taxes on it. I would need feed, land and shelter for the horse. It might end up being as expensive as the repair bill and the ticket. Besides that, riding the horse would be much colder, with the temperatures we have had lately. Thus, be careful what you wish for this Christmas! If you are in the shape I am in, the best medicine is to try and focus on others. We all tend to be pretty self-centered. The truth is that the world doesn't revolve around us. If we consider what people have in some of the third world countries and people who live on the street or in shacks in this country, most of us are very well off. We have shelter, enough to eat, and clothes on our back and the Bible says we are to be content with these things. Instead of making comparisons with people who have more than us, we should look at those who have less and try to help them. If we look at that first Christmas, it doesn't appear Jesus and his family had much. He was born in a stable out back. Kind of like being designated to sleep in the barn. Not only that but placed in a manger (a cattle feeding trough). Considering what materials they had back then, it might have been cold stone carved out. They probably threw some hay and a blanket in to keep him soft and warm.
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2012. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
|
