Love is the Currency that Enriches this World
Dr. Pfister and his wife, Terri, begin their Christmas celebrations
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere you go
Take a look at the five and ten, it's glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes that glow
Great words from Meredith Willson’s song, titled from the opening line, It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.
Yes, if you have been to Target, Macy’s, or any of a number of stores this week, the decorations are most festive, but the frantic pace of the feeding frenzy of shoppers could overwhelm you in short order!
Why do we do it to ourselves every year?
Believe it or not, a large portion of humanity is home shopping on-line to avoid the chaos and is not actually in front of you in the checkout line. But those brave souls who are… those who feel it’s the thrill of the hunt to find that special gift… that gift that’s still on the shelf and, yes, in the right size and color… that puts extra love and meaning into the gifts we give.
Interesting, though, what thirty-or-so years will do to your thoughts on Christmas…
Right now, sit down and think about how you used to feel about this week, when you were just a child. School was out, you could sleep in, stay in pajamas all day, watch TV, and snack. But your mind would keep drifting to thoughts on whether Santa would read your entire list.
Would he think you were as good as you hoped he would? Could he see that D- in math or when you pulled Betty’s hair on the bus? (She deserved it — she didn’t like Spiderman!)
Ah, but by mid-week, time really dragged…
Would Christmas ever come?
Then, all of a sudden, it’s Christmas Eve… going to church and then setting out cookies and carrots for Santa and his reindeer… and then trying to go to sleep.
I was the oldest. Dad and mom wanted me to set an example for my brother and sister, and sleep in on Christmas Day (at least until the sun came up!).
It was all so joyous as a child, with none of the parental responsibilities of “Santa Claus.”
Remember when you first found out about who St. Nick really was?
I was devastated and saddened but, like the “tooth fairy,” eventually the truth must be known, no matter how painful.
Heck, it’s part of that life journey we are all on. Just for twenty minutes, wouldn’t it be great to be a kid again at Christmas?
Hmmmm. Maybe.
But I still believe there is magic in Christmas for adults. It just comes in different forms and maybe not in a sleigh or wrapped under a tree, but in the warming of our hearts. Let me show you…
No matter what religious path of life you follow, one has to admit they feel something different in the air this time of year. There are books, plays, and movies all describing the fact that this time of year, it just feels better to give than to receive!
My staff and I went to two funerals and sat with patients who lost parents in the last three weeks due to Covid. We had a pizza party at an adult patient’s house (who lost her husband two weeks ago) to try and cheer her up.
Yes, a lot of tears were shed. But the love and warmth that we all shared was biblical and only fully appreciated by someone with some years on the road.
You want to find the magic of Christmas?
Work at a soup kitchen or orphanage. Buy a homeless person dinner and a new coat! Ring the bell for the Salvation Army — smile and wish everyone a Merry Christmas, especially those who don’t give and have forgotten how to smile!
The pandemic is making things a bit more difficult this year (but not impossible). There is definitely a lot of pain surrounding many families, but they all need our love and support.
So look around and find someone in need and then do something to make their day and world better because you stepped up to show you cared.
Love is the currency that enriches this world and makes it a better place to live in.
And remember the sage advice of the Beatles, “Money can’t buy me love”!
Slow down, sit in a café with a latte, look out the window, and be thankful for what you have and that you are vertical. It truly beats all the other options!
Take a deep breath. We’ll all get through this. We are a resilient and resourceful lot, with a ton of love to share.
And as you embark on whatever Christmas plans you made (or your adapted plans as a result of the times), just remember, love — not a physical gift — is what makes this world a better place.
On behalf of my family and staff, I truly wish each and every one of you the most meaningful Christmas ever!
With love,
Dr. Pfister