Holiday season is my favorite. Before my father’s passing in 1993, every Halloween my siblings and I would end the evening at his house. We would laugh and sift through the candies for the children and make sure that there weren’t any foreign objects or loose candy. My father’s birthday was January 21, and so between Halloween and his birthday, there was nothing but nonstop partying; we’d celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and my father’s birthday, but also several of my siblings had birthdays in between that time, and so we would celebrate those too. But even bigger than all the celebrations was the enormous manifestation of love that was always present during this special time.
I am always truly grateful to be born into the family that I have because they accept people as they are. So, regardless of whatever holiday you may celebrate, whenever you came into one of our homes, you would just join in on celebrating love. My dad would always give his visitors a gift. I remember one of my friends from college, who was always depressed during Christmas, stopped by his home and commented on the painting in the foyer. As she was getting ready to leave, my father took the painting off the wall and gave it to her. Later that evening I explained to him that it was one of my favorite paintings. His response was that she looked like she was having a difficult life and that the painting made her smile and that we could always get another painting. And even though we could not replace that exact same painting, many years later after my father’s death she would comment that his act of kindness during that difficult time allowed her to see Christmas in a more positive light. Ever since my father’s passing, the holidays just don’t seem to be as exciting but the love is still there.
Now my siblings and I are older, we have our own large families, we all live in different states, and Daddy is no longer here — so there is not much partying and running around anymore. However, what I love about this time of year is that regardless of what faith you belong to, there is an abundance of good cheer in the air.
One Christmas, I did not have any money to buy Christmas presents, and so I personally made calendars for my family members. Although it wasn’t much, they expressed that this was one of the best Christmas gifts that they had ever received because it was personal and told a story about their lives.
We have lost the message of these holidays; capitalism has tainted our understanding of this very sacred time. Not only is Black Friday still going strong, but also many stores are now open on Thanksgiving, and their employees are being forced to work on holidays so that the stores can make a large profit. Society has lost sight of what is most important. Children now make a list of gadgets and toys they will rarely use and certainly do not need. Parents are constantly buying more and more to try to make up for the time that they missed being at home. We are lost.
I want to go back to the holidays being a sacred time that’s about being surrounded by loved ones and where acknowledging the presence of a greater power is a priority. As you go to the dinner table, celebrating the traditions of your faith, give thanks for what and whom you have in your life. Look around at the people sitting next to you and bless them. Make this a time to allow for forgiveness, joy, and giving to fill your heart. You only have this moment that you are in; celebrate it. Throughout the world, around the globe this is a holy time within many cultures and if we just celebrated love, the world would be such a better place. The lyrics of “One Song” tells us, “If we all sing one song — one song of love, one song of peace, one song to make all our troubles cease — imagine what tomorrow would bring if we all sing one song.”
Let our hearts join together this season and sing one song. Let us humble ourselves and remember all the things we have to be grateful for. And when we look at our trees — and as my readers know, I love my tree — let those lights remind us of God’s light shining through us. I am wishing you a blessed time. And most importantly, be sure to honor the God within you.
Namaskar.
Crystal Emery is a New Haven writer, filmmaker and activist.
Oh Crystal you are such a wise and wonderful woman!! This was just the right thing for me to read as I head off this afternoon for Christmas with my family. Much love- Bitsie