It's The Most Wonderful Time...for some people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNOM7WOGGUw
First, I highly recommend this video.

It's Christmas, and so far, so good. I have not really gotten depressed yet, though people around me seem to be there.
It is a tough time of year. The loss of my uncle, my dear friend's parents, family friends, and church friends has made it a tough year. Financially, we have struggled, but I see the rewards everyday. They are not materialistic, they are watching a young man get an education, ending his fall semester with over 90% in each class. So the money we are spending is worth it. Physically, there have been a few issues, but nothing that cannot be handled with medicine and doctors and watching what we do.
I have listened to many friends and family members talk about loss, about loneliness, about hurt and pain and suffering. And Christmas just drudges it up for many of them.
But then I really paid attention to the Christmas story this year. How a young girl found out she was carrying the salvation of the world, God's son, and how she had to tell the man she was to marry, and somehow make him believe this outrageous story.
And how Joseph, somewhere lost in the annals of history, had to reconcile himself into believing this concept, that his young bride-to-be was the mother of God, and he was the earthly father. And then they had to flee their home and hide out in Egypt for several years so their baby would not be killed because a crazed king believed it the right thing to do.
And I think, if they could get through it, then I can get through my life and its ups and downs. That I dont have to be the grinch that has to hurt others to make myself feel good, that I dont have to put people down, be so mean-spirited (and I am guilty of that very thing this time of year), but I can try to be better.
This year the church gave over 150 kids Christmas presents. Plus, we had leftovers and gave more kids a better Christmas. There was one woman that seems ungrateful for the free toys. But then I look back and think how hard it must be for some people to accept charity, when they make struggle all year to make ends meet. It does not boost my ego to give, it makes me feel good, but maybe that is not what some people need to see this time of year.
Maybe they need to see that we all struggle with things that weigh us down, hurt us, make us regret.
And maybe we all need to remember that everyone has gone through hardship, even a young couple all those years ago in Bethlehem.