Christmas in July

I was recently in an airport and found myself with an unexpected two and a half hour layover. As I often do in such situations I put my headphones on, turned my MP3 on random selection and began to wander the halls. I soon found myself humming a Christmas song. I know it is a Christmas song because I got it off a Christmas Album. Plus I only hear it around Christmas time and this is the source of my consternation.

I like this song-like the words and the sentiment. I found myself asking why do we hear and sing this song a few weeks a year. The song goes like this.

“Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be…With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow; to take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.”

It’s not overly religious; God is mentioned one time- that’s it. So why only once a year? I would like to see peace in my life, global peace. Peace between people of all faiths and beliefs, maybe not in my generation- but the generation of our kids. It seems to me we will be a lot more likely to succeed if we teach and sing this song, say these words, and hold this vision all year long. What a great gift to give our kids. We hear about war, every night on the news. We will never achieve peace by focusing on war. Imagine if we spent as much time on and focused on peace with the same frequency and verve.

PS- Christmas is celebrated in July in many cultures- so why not peace.

I wish you Peace, Jim

Dear Santa…Please Keep My Family Safe

Every year children all across the country and the world make lists to Santa. Wishes for new bikes and dolls and don’t forget the very latest toy. Childhood wishes and childhood dreams. Every year though children are poisoned by holiday plants; are electrocuted by holiday decorations. Parents die in drunk-driving collisions.

As a paramedic my partner and I responded one Christmas morning to an unknown medical. When we arrived we walked past a Christmas tree completely surrounded by presents as well as two young children eagerly awaiting both parents arrival so the day’s festivities could begin. The husband met us and led us to the master bedroom. Mom was dead- had died several hours earlier. The holidays are hard times for many people even people with love, and family and friends. Some people make choices during the holiday they might not make during other times of the year. There was nothing we could do and not a more helpless feeling we could feel.

What’s amazing to me is that this call was over 20 years ago. I had no other involvement that what I stated yet I still remember it- every Christmas season. The children would be grown by now. I bet that they too still remember. I bet they still feel different about Christmas than do many of their friends.

I bet if those kids could go back in time their wishes would simply be to have Mom with them for many more years to come. So please place safety at the very top of your Santa list. As adults we need to assure the health and safety of our kids and we can’t afford a break over the holiday season.

The lyrics of one of my favorite holiday songs perhaps say it best.

My Grown Up Christmas List

….”As children we believed
The grandest sight to see
Was something shiny
Wrapped beneath the tree

But heaven only knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal
A hurting human soul

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end

Oh, This is my grown up Christmas list”