My Grown Up Christmas List

From My Perspective

By Toni Walker

Editor

news@steelcountrybee.com

I love the music of the holidays. No matter how old I get, I will always sing along with the Chipmunk’s Christmas Song. There are some songs that simply MAKE Christmas for me. You know, those songs that just have to be heard before it really feels like Christmas time. “Christmas Shoes” and “Mary, Did You Know” are two of my favorites. However, there is one that I heard today that has a little bit different meaning for me.

Amy Grant sings a Christmas song entitled “Grown-Up Christmas List.” As I was listening to it today, I got to thinking about Christmas Lists. Here in a few days, I will get Santa letters from local schools. Kids want a wide range of things from Santa, and some of them I honestly have never heard of! My own kids have been known to ask for some pretty outlandish things, as well. I mean, really! What 6 year old needs an iPhone?

As I was thinking about what it would be like if adults made Christmas lists, I began to wonder: what would we put on it? To lose weight? Maybe more time to ourselves? What about more time with loved ones who have gone before us? I’m sure we all would be at least tempted to put more money or a bigger, better house on our list. But, what if we took the time to think about things that really mattered?

Maybe instead of wishing for more money, we could look for ways to help our fellow man. Instead of looking down on others, what if we took the time to know them and be a friend. Maybe, instead of more time alone to do what WE want, we take more time to be there for our kids, doing things they like.

When I look at the world we live in right now, it troubles me. Even at this time of the year, I see so many people with not only a “me-first” attitude, but rather a “me-only” attitude. If we stopped looking so much at ourselves and what we want, maybe, just maybe, this world would be a better place.

A portion of the lyrics from Grant’s song reads: “No more lives torn apart, then wars would never start, and time would heal all hearts. And every one would have a friend, and right would always win, and love would never end. This is my grown-up Christmas list. This is my only lifelong wish, this is my grown-up Christmas list.” How true would these words be?

Well, from my perspective, Santa isn’t going to bring those things. The only thing that will bring the changes we need, this country needs, and this world needs is for us to be the change. Make the effort to help someone instead of knocking them down. Look at people for who they are, instead of what they can do for you. Then, maybe we can make this world a better place. Because, as Grant sings, “What is this illusion called, the innocence of youth? Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth!”

That is my grown-up Christmas list.