“Sir, I wanna buy these shoes,
“For my mama, please.
“It’s Christmas Eve and these shoes are just hersize.
“Could you hurry, sir?
“Daddy says there’s not much time.
“You see, she’s been sick for quite a while,
“And I know these shoes will make her smile.
“And I want her to look beautiful,
“If Mama meets Jesus tonight.”
I was getting my hair cut a two weekends back. As I was sitting there, a woman in the chair next to me was talking about the nonstop Christmas music and how they had played these two tear-jerker songs back to back.
And then she said, “I don’t know why they have to write such sad Christmas songs, anyway.”
Why? On the one hand, Christmas in its most religious interpretation is solely about the birth of Christ. In its most modern, commercial adaptation, it’s about snowmen and Santa and giving unnecessary piles of presents and gifts to one another that most of us don’t really need (not that I object, don’t misunderstand. And I’m as guilty as the next person when it comes to this part).
But these songs I find, despite their sappiness quotient, to be one of my favorite parts of the season. I like to believe they remind us that there’s more than just presents, more than a religious holiday here. That it’s really the season, the whole period between Thanksgiving and Christmas, to reflect on ourselves, how we treat one another, and how we want the world to be. It’s a time to give thanks, to make changes, and to give. It’s a time when everyone is a little more open to believing, to not being as cynical as they may otherwise be the rest of the year.
Putting aside all the parking space fights at the mall, of course.
One reply on “Christmas Time Oh Christmas Time”
I know I start with the Christmas songs oh in July a bit early for some but Christmas in July is just so much fun I just love the music. Oh well my husband and me start with the christmas lights in September. Sure we are a little crazy but its just so much fun.