"The Christmas spirit is a wonderful thing," Bob Hope once said. "It's
the one time of the year when a man will give somebody a $50 watch, and
the rest of the year he wouldn't give him the time of day."

I love the humor of Bob Hope. This quote of his is funny, only because
it is also true! Christmas is the time of year when we are reminded of
the grandest of human ideals. Compassion, forgiveness and love to name
just a few. Ideals we as Kiwanians strive to live up to all year. To
be honest though, I'm not sure I always receive these "higher standard"
Christmas time reminders with humility or welcome. Sometimes I accept
them only begrudgingly, as if I "have to" be more compassionate now,
because it is Christmas time. Ever feel that way? I read that all some
people really want is an inoculation of Christianity-just enough of it
so that they don't catch the real thing. Sometimes Christmas is no more
than a "booster" shot.

Perhaps this is why Christmas time can be more stressful than relaxing
to many of us. More frustrating than fulfilling. Because we are being
reminded that for the last eleven months of the year, we maybe haven't
lived up to these ideals very well.

Benjamin Franklin once said, "How many observe Christ's birthday! How
few, his teachings! O, 'tis easier to keep holidays than commandments."

We make a mockery out of Christmas when we don't practice the spirit of
Christmas every day. We make a mockery out of Christmas when we get
upset over words such as Happy Holidays, rather than Merry Christmas,
focusing on the words and not on the meaning of the season. We make a
mockery out of Christmas when we don't care enough to really know the
story as printed in the Bible, or when we don't care enough to pass the
story on correctly. When we don't care enough to make a connection
between Christ and our gift giving. When we make Santa Claus the spirit
of Christmas, leaving out Christ, the entire reason and true spirit of
Christmas.

My hope and prayer for you and me as Kiwanians and friends is that we
will not only enjoy the best that Christmas time has to offer, but that
we will do so with the intent to practice every day throughout the year
what is considered to be the meaning of Christmas.

In closing I want to share a poem with you. It's entitled, "When Jesus
Called That Christmas Week."

"When Jesus Called That Christmas Week"

"When Jesus called that Christmas week I wasn't at my best;
And the house was much too cluttered to entertain a guest.
He seemed to notice everything, the cards still unaddressed;
The gifts piled high awaiting wraps, the baking and the rest.
His eyes fell on the evergreen and the presents 'neath the tree,
It's my birthday that you celebrate-what are you giving me?
'What am I giving him?' I thought; ashamed no words I found.
So many costly things I'd bought, he looked at me and frowned.
I prayed he'd let the question pass, but when he did persist,
I blurted out the truth at last, you were not on my list."
(Louise Teisberg)