Merry Christmas Wishes to You and Yours

Following is something that was written several years ago by a dear young friend of mine and printed in her local newspaper:

Christmas is a special to me because I like to go to Mass with my grandma and grandpa. We eat with them too. My mom makes chicken cordon bleu. In the morning we open up presents. Christmas is my favorite holiday.  — As written by a very smart little girl in the second grade

When I read this I was so impressed by my dear little friend and what she loves about Christmas. Notice, she didn’t write about the mounds of toys she gets. (Sure she mentioned presents, but she did so last, and she is a child after all!) What she focused on were the traditions that she has with her family; being with her grandparents and the special dish that her mom makes just once a year. If we could read between the lines and see what is actually written on her heart – things her young mind have yet to be able to express – we get the sense that for all of the hustle and bustle that goes on around her, my little friend, this seven-year old child, really gets the true meaning and spirit of the holidays.As adults we talk about how the spirit of the holidays seems to have been lost; it has become too commercialized and too much about presents and looking good. Yet, given the wisdom of my little friend, one has to ask the questions, "Who has lost the holiday spirit? Who has done the commercializing? Who is too much about presents and looking good?" It seems to me that we all have something to learn from my very wise seven-year old friend.My best to you and yours for a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season!