Points2Ponder by Alan P. Scaglione

"Who Says Christmas is Just for Kids?"

Points2Ponder


Anybody know what time it is?

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

And… It’s the beginning of a special tradition my wife and I share:

The Twelve Days of Christmas…which started December 13th!

Why should that matter to anyone?

Because…it’s my first day of twelve days of presents…

I know, you’re probably thinking, “he’s a grown man! He shouldn’t be thinking about getting presents!”

And you would be right!

I am grown and…I shouldn’t be thinking of getting a present each day, celebrating the climactic countdown to the most wonderful day of the year!

Did I ever mention that my wife says that we have six kids and 5 grandkids and yet…

She says that I am the BIGGEST KID SHE HAS!

And I have to admit, after careful consideration of the evidence presented…

I AM!!!

We have been celebrating Twelve Days of Christmas since we started dating.

The kids are sooo jealous!

My son said, “Pops, why is it that you get twelve days of presents AND Christmas Day! And we just get Christmas?”

I pondered his point, searching for a philosophic, esoteric, universal, transcending explanation to this query.

Then I said, “Guess I lucked out!”

He was not happy—and yet, I loved every minute of it!



POINTS2PONDER Why do we allow “life” to rob us of the joy of Christmas? Why can’t we still be a “kid” when it comes to celebrating Christmas?



Here’s how it goes:

Every year, we exchange tokens of love and appreciation. You call them presents; I call them “Just Because” gifts.

Just Because…I love you; Just Because…I appreciate you; Just Because…I wanted to!

And the presents aren’t expensive; one year, we made it a Dollar Store Christmas.

I told her that I promised her the world when she married me—I gave her a blow up globe!

See? It can be funny and yet heartfelt.

And each day has a card celebrating the unique moment that we are sharing .

Each year has a theme.

For example, some themes of years past have been: Goals, Dreams, Bucket List, Attitude of Gratitude, and Reasons why I love you.

You get the picture—it really is a time of year when we pause to appreciate our relationship, the gift God gave each of us when He gave us to each other!



This year’s theme…Top 12 Favorite Memories We’ve Made!



Each day, we wake up with anticipation. Not just of the present given but of the words expressed and shared.

And we start our day excited about what we’ve received and revealed…and a smile and a memory to carry us through the day!



And that’s why we do it!



So???

Why not start your own tradition?

Start your own Twelve Days of Christmas.

Share your own memories or reasons why you love your spouse; “Just Because” presents that express your affection.

Remember…it’s the sharing of thoughts and revealing of your love to one another that is the real reason you may want to do this.

And you’re right—you don’t have to do this to share and reveal with your spouse.

But I ask you?

When’s the last time you took twelve days to tell your spouse something specific that you love or appreciate or admire about them?

When’s the last time you shared twelve days of dreams or goals or things you want to do before you “kick the bucket”?

We all say…”they know how I feel-they don’t need me to say it or express it.”

But…who doesn’t like to be reminded every once in a while?



So…the reward is…taking the hustle and the bustle that this time of year can consume us with…and stopping for a moment each morning…

Starting your day the right way!

And besides…

I ask you…who doesn’t love opening a present when you wake up…twelve days in a row!

I know this BIG KID sure does!