Goodbye Christmas Cheer...

I don't know about you, but during the holiday season I always feel like I should be just a little more patient and a little nicer to the average Joe, or the sales clerk.   It seems like humanity is magically filled with "Christmas Cheer" come December(or perhaps as early as the end of November).  A man will hold the door open at a retail store for the woman carrying armfuls of packages.  Someone passing by the homeless guy holding the sign at the freeway exit may stop and give a needed donation.  There seems to be Peace and Goodwill toward men during this time of year.

However....

Have you noticed, that at the end of the holidays, mankind still remains man, but is inevitability  less kind?  It is truly a sad commentary on society when we have compassion and kindness one month a year.  What is it that changes in us during the last month on the calender, driving us to treat others with respect and care?

Is it, do you suppose, a last attempt, before the dawn of the New Year, to "rack up" some good deeds?  Or perhaps the Scrooge in all of us is suppressed during Christmas time.   

As a Christ follower, my goal is to be cheerful and gracious all year round, but during the holidays (I guess because everyone else is doing it) I tend to at least notice the "Christmas Spirit" is more alive.  I can't say that I have a solution for the rest of humanity, but as for me... I would like to make it a habit.

J.R.R. Tolkien said, "If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world". 

Maybe he hit the nail on the head.  Maybe we take life, and ourselves, too seriously.  I know that I am extremely self absorbed...perhaps the reason for my blogging(harhar).  I need to think about the guy next to me... and I don't mean a thought like, "'why is that guy looking at me that way, what a jerk, he has no right looking at me at all!"  We need to "consider others better than ourselves"(Philippians).



Do I think this is going to happen?  Doubtful...do I think it would work?  Most definitely.  Not to be negative, but we are a selfish people.  But, I can change my habits.  That's all I can control (and frankly, all I can handle...sorry people, you're on your own.).