Christmas is my favorite time of year. I have fond memories of Christmas growing up in Jamaica. We didn’t have much, but we had what mattered - family, friends, food and fellowship. I remember we would always get a Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, and we would decorate it with lights. Gifts were simple, but so very appreciated. There was always a whole heap of food: curry goat, ham, rum cake and sorrel. For that season, the joy was pervasive. Stress and worry seemed to be suspended while everyone enjoyed the festivities and fellowship. I was always sad to see the Christmas season end. As I got older, my coping mechanism for saying goodbye to Christmas was to immediately start looking forward to the next Christmas. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that as an adult I try to stretch the Christmas season as long as I can. I start listening to Christmas music on November 1, and I reluctantly take down Christmas decorations no sooner than after the first week in January. (I would keep them up all year, but Tex drew the line.)

 There is something beautiful and magical about the Christmas season. I think the world is different. There is more joy. There is more generosity. There is more kindness. There are Hallmark Christmas movies. There is more love. Despite the strong commercialization, there is still something special about this time of year. Christmas reminds us that there is something bigger than ourselves worth celebrating. Christmas is the celebration of Love entering humanity and giving us the greatest gift of all. The gift of redemption, acceptance and hope. My Christmas wish for you is that peace and joy will abound in your hearts and minds, and that you will know that you are loved.

"Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. If we think on these things, there will be born in us a Savior and over us will shine a star sending its gleam of hope to the world.” ~ Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933), American president. Presidential message (December 25, 1927).

 Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!