Page 29 2024 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News can ever replace the feeling of being a part of a community that cares for you. Personally, I think we’ve lost some of that as time has passed. Technology and divisiveness often drive wedges between us. We care too little for our neighbors’ needs. It’s easy to turn a blind eye or ignore the plea for help. To that, I say fah-who foris. The Grinch is the one who receives the REAL gift in the story. His heart grows and he storms down the mountain with all that was taken. In return he’s given acceptance and love. He’s made a part of their celebration and accepted within their community. You can’t be a bad banana when your heart is three times bigger. Still think you need the shiny new iPhone? My comrade in curmudgeonry (no, that’s not a real word) would like to speak with you. Ebenezer Scrooge might be the biggest curmudgeon of them all. At least, he was. We all know the story. Marley brings a warning and three ghosts of Christmas Insomnia wreck old Scrooge’s life. They also save his soul. It wasn’t a present that changed Scrooge, it was compassion. That old crank experienced empathy. Kevin McCallister is left Home Alone by his parents. He proceeds to torture a couple of thieves and learns a lesson about family from an old guy with a shovel. Then he wakes up alone on Christmas morning. Just when all hope seems lost, his mother walks in the door. She’s followed shortly thereafter by the rest of the family. A family he had wished would disappear. I doubt there could have been a single present under the tree that compared to a hug from his mom. In Elf the main character, Buddy, travels from the North Pole to New York City. Buddy comes from a place that quite literally makes gifts. Still, his story is not about a gift. It’s about fi nding and connecting with his father. It’s about those deep relationships that are formed with family, love and acceptance. A Charlie Brown Christmas has our pal Charlie depressed about the commercialism of the holiday. He sets out to fi nd the true meaning of Christmas and fi nds caring for one another to be a key. Charlie’s buddy Linus provides him with a deeper meaning as well… one of faith. “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men. That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.” Back to my question…Do we REALLY need gifts for Christmas? No. Of course not. I think I have been able to prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, gifts don’t make Christmas. Christmas is family, love, laughter, community, compassion, acceptance and faith. Those aren’t gifts. Those are...wait a minute…huh! Maybe it is about gifts. Mom, if you’re reading this, I’d still like an air fryer. [Jeff Wyles]
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