Pbmom's Blog

Christmas is a time of universal reflection for me, maybe even more so than Thanksgiving. At New Year’s I’m looking at personal achievements in the past year and what I want to accomplish in the next year.

When we sit down to our meal, I recount our list of blessings. Every year, the list seems to grow. I start off slowly, thanking the Earth for the food, the people who planted it, grew it, harvested it, and transported it so that I could enjoy the meal of which I am about to partake. I make sure to thank the turkey for its life. Then the tears inevitably come–for the people who are going hungry, who are homeless, who are hopeless, and who are loveless. I may have helped some over the year, but did I do enough? NEVER. There is always more an individual can do. I gratefully acknowledge the people who have sacrificed their lives–our military and the quiet heroes of daily life. I say a blessing to those families who are grieving the death of a loved one; holidays can be the hardest times in their lives. I pray for those contemplating suicide that they find some reason to hang on to this life just one more day.  Then I’ll begin to recount all the blessings currently in my own life.

While I may moan or complain from time to time, my life is very good. Patrick continues to flourish. I have a loving family, a roof over my head in a fantastic area to live, food in my stomach, a decent car to drive, great neighbors, wonderful friends, and an employer who is continuing to let me try to work each day as much as I can instead of filing for disability.

The things I have on my Christmas wish list require the cooperation of others in order to achieve:

1. World peace. Sounds corny, I know, but I’m an idealistic fool who thinks this is actually possible. Before that happens, we will have to get rid of prejudice and hate. In order to get rid of prejudice and hate, we need better educated people.

2. End to hunger: With all the food we have and waste every day, we could feed the world.

3. A cure for autism: Just because I love my son and accept his diagnosis, doesn’t mean I would not want to make life easier for him, and for other parents not to have to even take this journey. The life lessons have been tremendous, but at what cost?

4. More kindness. As our economy struggles, I have noticed more rude people. Perhaps at the heart of this issue is self-centeredness. How can you be kind to others if it is all about you? I understand your life circumstance may be difficult, but the person who has done nothing to you is now the bulls-eye of your toxic dart board. I believe in karma.

While I am waiting for those things to happen, I will continue to try to do my part, helping one person at a time, one day at a time.

People tend to store their “good will towards men” for just the Christmas season. As they pack away the Christmas decorations, the spirit of Christmas leaves them as well. Perhaps I should dream smaller. Perhaps my ultimate Christmas wish is for others to find the heart of Christmas in their daily lives and keep that siren song alive year-round. Instead of the 12 days of Christmas, we would sing the joys of 365 days of Christmas. Can you imagine what an astounding force of nature we as a people would be?