You would need to be in a different world to not know that Christmas is just around the corner and the commercial hype is in full swing. Christmas movies on the television, adverts with the famous red truck, supermarket special offers and men with red suits and white beards at every event. Schools busy with nativity plays and making decorations, late night shopping, carol singing, tree buying and decorating and list after list of things to buy and things to do before the 'big day'.
But stop.....just for a moment.
It's easy to remember those who are 'less fortunate' than ourselves......a shoebox filled with goodies for children in Eastern Europe, a donation to one of the many charities that help support those in need or the homeless at this time of year, numerous renditions of 'Do They Know it's Christmas' reminding us of the starving in Africa and as easy as it is to give and feel we've 'done our bit', but once it's done it's easy to forget about and we carry on with our busy preparations.
But closer to home there are people suffering in different ways. Christmas is a time which brings bad memories or perhaps good memories that are too hard to handle because of loss or change. Loneliness or family conflict means that this time of families gathering together to have fun and enjoy each others company doesn't happen or is strained or stressful. People pretending to be enjoying themselves and the build up but inside they can't wait for it all to be over. It emphasises what they don't have, what they did have but don't have anymore or what they really want to have.
Financial pressures, 'keeping up with the Joneses' all add to the stress and misery. Managing the expectations of children who think Santa Claus can bring them any gift they ask for or bring them the parent they are missing or join families back together.
I'm not trying to make Christmas miserable and certainly not saying that this is the situation for lots of people but I do think that there are many people who struggle with this time of year. When someone perhaps says they aren't really feeling festive or aren't looking forward to Christmas, instead of dismissing them with the common 'bah humbug' retort, why not just stop for a moment and consider what they might be facing that steals their joy at this time of year.
The Christmas story is one of hope, joy and love - can we bring these things to people around us this Christmas?
