Another Christmas has come and gone.
It's supposed to be a happy time of year.Loved ones come together to exchange gifts and feast on Christmas dinner.People give of themselves to those that are less fortunate.It's supposed to be a time when treasured memories are made and a time when we can forget about the problems in the world.As the late Andy Williams once sang,it's supposed to be "the most wonderful time of the year."
And,as any parent knows,Christmas is supposed to be a time for children.
We may not fancy being woken out of a deep sleep early in the morning by overexcited kids who are itching to find out what Santa Claus had brought them.But we do it because we love them and because we know that Christmas is one of those days that they'll remember most when they're grown and looking back on that magical time that is childhood.For a group of families in Connecticut,being awakened at an early hour on Christmas morning wouldn't be a tiring prospect as much as it would be a happy awakening.At least their children would be alive.They would be safe and sound.They could experience another Christmas in their young lives.I can't possibly imagine what these parents felt on this morning after losing their children only recently in a senseless act of violence.
Surely,there are no kind words or condolences that anyone can offer to these parents that could even come close to easing the emotional pain that they are feeling.This is not something that they will get over any time soon,if ever.I can't help but remember a scene from the 1970's television series "Soap" when the character of The Major,as his daughter hovered between life and death and he had one of his rare moments of lucidity,said that there ought to be a law against children going first.Nobody wants to bury their flesh and blood,no matter how old they are and regardless of what time of year it might be.But the fact that these children were taken so young and just over a week prior to Christmas is beyond tragic.There is not a word in this language or in any others that can truly describe it.
These are the times when we should not only think about how fortunate that we may be but to also be mindful that there are many people in this world whose Christmas is not as joyous or festive as ours.It's not to depress ourselves or to feel guilty about enjoying this time with our kith and kin.It's just to keep things in perspective.It's obvious with every cheque made to a charity and every coin and bill dropped into a Salvation Army kettle that such mindfulness is there on the part of a great many.Christmas just seems to be the best time where we can think about the sick and infirmed,the poor and the needy,and the lonely and suffering.In light of the terrible events at Sandy Hook,we should take at least a moment whereby we give a thought or a prayer to the bereaved families of these children.
So as the holidays pass and the world moves forward,hug your children more tightly and kiss them with as much love and tenderness as the touch of your lips is able to.There are parents out there who can only wish to do the same.
