Christmas spirit matters

Christmas spirit matters - if you don’t celebrate Christmas, insert the December holiday of your choice Hanukkah, Kwanza, Omisoka. I’m not talking about the “reason for the season” or the religious significance of the holidays. I’m talking about the feeling of good will and community that comes with celebrating together and giving gifts to those we love. Regardless of your religious affiliation, I think we can all agree the world needs that spirit right now.

I’m having a little trouble getting in the Christmas spirit this year. OK let’s tell the truth. I have trouble getting in the Christmas spirit every year.

I said to my husband the other day, “I just didn’t feel like putting up a Christmas tree this year,” expecting a little sympathy - it’s been a long month, a short month actually - where did it go?, and a long year.

But his response was, “You never feel like putting up a Christmas tree.”

I could list for you all the reasons why it doesn’t feel like Christmas to me, but it’s 2020, the list would not fit on this page.

I got a spark of it in November when we decorated the store, setting up Santa and Mrs. Claus with their cookies and a story book while my husband set up his Christmas village and brand new tiny train set. I even planted an outdoor Christmas tree.

But it was stolen!

So much for Christmas spirit.

However, thanks to the internet and security cameras, the tree was found and returned. Well, just plopped in the pot not buried carefully, but it was back home. A little dry, a little brown, a little worse for wear after having spent some time in a dumpster, but home.

So my husband replanted it properly and has been monitoring it and watering it carefully. It came back to life. Christmas spirit returns.

Here’s what I’m taking away from this and sharing with you — Christmas spirit, and happiness in general, has to be nurtured. It has to be watered with positive thoughts and watched carefully in case it starts to turn brown.

And it can come back after you think it’s been lost. Don’t just leave it in the dumpster. Replant it. It may take a little work, but it’s worth it. It matters.

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P. S. If you are wondering what Omisoka is, I found it when I Googled December holidays and I think it might be the most important holiday we celebrate this year. The last day of the 12th lunar month — essentially New Year’s Eve — this Japanese holiday is dedicated to making sure the next year doesn’t harbor the evil spirits left over from this year.

According to Wikipedia, “important activities for the concluding year and day were completed in order to start the new year fresh. Some of these include house cleaning, repaying debts, purification (such as driving out evil spirits and bad luck), and bathing so the final hours of the year could be spent relaxing.”

I’m not taking any chances with 2020. I suggest you all do the same.

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Let me know what matters to you at rsmith@crestonnews.com, 641-782-2141 ext. 6433, or c/o Creston News Advertiser, 503 W. Adams St., Creston, Iowa 50801.