I have to admit that I’m one of those people who has a real hard time getting into the holidays. They’re too hectic, too commercial and far too expensive. I completely sympathize with The Grinch and Scrooge. This year is no exception, except for the realization that I’ve become (forgive the vernacular here….) “woke” about how important they really are.
Before going any further with this, let me say that the big American troika of celebrations…Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve…are a definite part of our culture and are now under fire from the PC/thought police Gestapo.
But at my age (old enough to remember black and white TV with only 3 channels, 25 cent gas, phones attached to the wall, etc., etc….) I’ve had a sort of double edged epiphany regarding this time of year. I say that because I’ve come to understand both the positive and the negative aspect of the season.
On the negative side, I feel I don’t need just one particular day to celebrate the fact I have a Savior. Nor do I feel the need to set aside just one day to show thanks for what America offers and stands for. New Year’s Eve I stopped caring about a long time ago. As a musician, New Year’s Eve gigs payed more than normal, but the drunks were also worse than normal. After a while, it just wasn’t worth the hassle. I now stay home where it’s safe….or work like I will this year.
On the positive side, I’m thankful that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. At the very least, Christmas should serve as the reminder that we have a Savior. Accepting Christ as Savior is really the easy part. Truly making Him Lord of your life can sometimes be a daily struggle. (At least for me it is…see I Cor. 15:31). I’m mindful of my need for Christ every day, and I’m more than grateful that, for now at least, we still have the freedom to openly express our faith.
The same goes for Thanksgiving. If you and your family and friends get together to observe it truly as a day of thanks, or it’s just an opportunity unashamedly be a glutton and then watch football, it doesn’t matter. We still have the freedom to travel, gather together without restrictions and enjoy ourselves. There are those who want to distort the historical meaning of Thanksgiving and eventually even stop it if they can.
New Year’s Eve is a bit of a toss up. Nonetheless, we still have the freedom to choose to participate or not. At the very least, for many it’s simply a time to reflect on the past year and plan for a hopefully better next year. And for some folks, if you’re not too hammered, those plans might help you avoid some of the negativity of last year.
Without being aware of it, the left/progressives/socialists/Democrats have given the rest of the country a huge gift. They have discarded any pretense of civility, of bi-partisanship, of honor and even honesty. Their hatred for American values, and their love of nothing but raw power and total control are on open display daily. Those of us who are paying attention now know what the phrase “enemies both foreign AND domestic” truly means.
We are now in a war on our own soil, brought to us by other so-called Americans. Our ability to worship, give thanks, gather for any event or holiday and travel at will are now targets of the left. The true meaning of the celebrations of Christmas, Thanksgiving, and even New Years could very easily be erased.
But not if we remember why all this, this season of celebration, thanks and hopefulness matters. It’s worth fighting for and that fight starts with our attitudes and understanding.
God Bless you all. Thanks for your indulgence throughout the year. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and have a safe New Year’s Eve.
