The Most Wonderful Time Of Year -With A Caveat

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year…” Can you just hear Andy Williams’ smooth vocals coming over the PA system at the mall or in the grocery store? Well he’s right, this can be a wonderful time of year, but it can also be a stressful and wearisome time -when Black Friday turns into Black Thursday and is the major focus of the holiday season; or when harried moms and dads shamelessly fight over the latest must have toy for their children –at 50% off of course; or when the pressure to buy things we may want, but not need overshadows the true meaning of the season. Still, I love this time of the year because for at least a few weeks during winter, people try a little harder to be nicer to each other, think more about giving to those who don’t have as much, and smile at strangers when at other times they’re not as apt to.

This Christmas however, our celebrations are less cheerful as we mourn for the victims killed by an evil individual on December 14^th, 2012 in Newtown Connecticut. When I think about how these families will never share another holiday season with loved ones, and try imagining the pain they must be feeling, the stark reality of it forces me to place the focus where it should be - on the people I love and care for, and not on the gifts that I give them.

Understandably, when something like this happens we get scared because it shows just how vulnerable we are to the evils of the world, no matter how hard we work to protect ourselves. We try and affix blame to make sense of it all; pointing fingers at each other and coming up with desperate solutions that we hope will work. It’s fine to ask questions and have open debates about what should be done -just not now, so soon after that horrific day. The truth is, we can’t legislate away the evil in a man’s heart – and acts like the one in Newtown Connecticut won’t be stopped by Congress or by arming each and every American citizen. Those that don’t believe will roll their eyes when I say this -but all we can do is trust in God’s bigger plan, and rest in a wisdom that we cannot comprehend.  

For now, let’s avoid the finger pointing and give the Newtown families time to grieve –we shouldn’t use the deaths of these victims to support whatever side of the gun issue we come down on. Instead, let’s pray for the families who are struggling to make it through this season, and hope that their holidays aren’t forever marred by this wicked act. You and I can use this time to tell our loved ones how much they mean to us, and be grateful that we are still able to hug, kiss, and hold them, at this most wonderful time of year.

This is my favorite version of “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” by the late and great Andy Williams.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73UqDX_quk0

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at The Writer’s Block

We’ll be back in 2013.