Brookey's Cafe Blog

Merry Christmas Eve!

Whatever your beliefs, or non-beliefs, some could argue that there seems to be a bit of magic in the air around Christmas time. Maybe it's because everyone is in the holiday spirit, spreading good will and cheer, and being a little extra nice as the new year approaches.

It's especially gratifying to see this magic in the eyes of a child. And even though my nephews are Muslims and don't celebrate Christmas, even THEY seem to have that extra sparkle. I think it's just the season of giving and love.

While we should celebrate generosity and love all year round - I must admit I love the feeling of Christmas. Decorating my tree, listening to Christmas music, addressing Christmas cards, hot cocoa, spending time with family and friends - all of that just makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

I thank my family - particularly my mother - for instilling that Christmas spirit in me as a child, and I hope to one day pass that along to a child I may have one day. While Christmas should be about giving and not receiving, I look forward to the day when a child of mine wakes up to a lit tree wondering if Santa ate the cookies we left out for him - looking for reindeer dust. I look forward to him or her watching Rudolph, Frosty, The Grinch and A Charlie Brown Christmas - all the things that bring wonder to a child's imagination and a twinkle to their eye - making their hearts burst with joy.

As many of us grow older and begin families of our own, the magic of Christmas and the excitement of this special season can sometimes get lost in all the commercialism of the holidays. Decorating, putting up lights and standing in all the long lines at the mall can easily become a nuisance - and slowly start to take away our Christmas spirit. The very activities that once made Christmas so fun and special for us as children simply become a hassle to us as we grow into adults.

Don't let that happen. Don't forget why you believe this season is special. If you have children, simply watching how excited they get around this time of year should reignite the flame of Christmas joy. Children naturally seem to have it, whether they expect gifts or not. Tell them the reason for the season - love, giving and fellowship. Christmas is more than Santa and Rudolph, and definitely more than toys and material things. It's a wonderful feeling, sprinkled with a little Christmas joy that lives inside you and has always been there.

This season, spend time with family and friends, donate your time to a shelter, give to a family in need and spread a little Christmas magic - and continue to spread it all year round.

-b

Happy Christmas Eve!

About 2 years ago, my sister converted to Islam. She was afraid to tell me, afraid of what I might say or think. I was taken back at first, but not shocked. After all, she married a Muslim and they were raising my nephews to follow Islam. Even though he never told her she had to convert, I knew she was always interested in learning more about Islam. She never felt pressured, and every year she had a Christmas tree in her living room - he even cooked Christmas dinner. Married for 8 years, together for 10, he loved her - no matter who she called God. And I love her the same way. When we stand before God on Judgment Day, we stand alone. Who we pray to is our choice and our choice alone. If Islam brings her peace, then I support her. I will love her no matter who she worships.

Riding with her to pick up Kyce from school yesterday, she pointed out all the pretty houses decorated with wreaths, lights and fake reindeer on front lawns. "Wait til you see the one on the next corner, it's REALLY pretty," she says excitedly. We then hear Johnny Gill's rendition of a popular Christmas carol on the radio and we sing along. She still seems to enjoy this time of year, even though it's not "her holiday" anymore. So I ask, "do you miss Christmas?"

After all, this is the same younger sister who would wait up at night with me on Christmas Eve, excited at the chance to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus. This is the same younger sister who would be giddy when she opened gift after gift on Christmas morning. One Christmas, we each received 4 Barbie Dolls - so my sister wound up with 8 because I didn't play with dolls. That was one of her favorite Christmases.

With so many memories to share, how could she NOT miss Christmas?

"No, not really...I don't really miss it," she says. I accept that. But then she continues, "If anything, I feel bad that you don't really have Christmas because you're at my house and there's no tree...I feel bad more that YOU don't have Christmas."

I think about that for a moment.

Yes, it would be nice to take my nephews to go see Santa at the mall and watch them sit on a creepy man's lap. Kyce LOVES all the lights and asks my mother, "Nana, are you having Christmas?" I'm not sure if he gets why he doesn't celebrate Christmas - he just knows there's a gazillion commercials on tv advertising toys, toys, toys and more toys. He knows something is going on. So yes, I'd love to see the excitement in his eyes as he bakes cookies for Santa. I'd love to help them compose letters to old St. Nick telling him what good boys they were. I would love to see them in a festive outfit in church, singing hymns and re-enacting Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus in a manger. But I will never share that with my nephews. Maybe I will with my best friends' children, but not with Kyce and Ibrahim.

Do I miss celebrating Christmas with my sister? Absolutely. But is the magic gone? No, not really. There is just something about Christmas Eve.

The first half of Christmas Eve is pure crazy with people rushing to finish their shopping, work or whatever has to be done before Christmas Day. But about the time the sun goes down, I begin to feel like it’s a holiday. Stores begin to close and a quiet peacefulness sets in. In this peace, I am reminded of what the holiday means.

Christmas means that Jesus was born for me. I am here because of His grace and mercy. It is because of Him that I am able to wake up every morning, with a roof over my head, clothes on my back, food to eat and blessings to share. It is because of Him that I am able to spend time with those I love. It is because He was born that I am saved. There is magic in that. Not just on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, but EVERY day.

I don't need a tree or presents to remind me of the true meaning of Christmas. I don't need to see my nephews dressed up as reindeer, baking cookies for Santa or opening gifts to feel that "feeling." With the love of my family and friends, Christmas is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

However and wherever you celebrate this year, or even if you don’t celebrate at all, I hope that you find peace, hope and joy - and yes...magic.

-b