Got to be Real: Christmas spirit has no price tag

By SHONNA SHECKLES

Well, it is that time of the year, my friends.

The hustle and bustle of Christmas — for me, the Christmas season — has become so commercial and gives the constant look of wanting and not giving.

We all know the biblical story of the birth of Jesus and how the three wise men brought the gifts to herald the birth of the babe, born in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothing, for there was no room for his parents at the inn. That is what Christmas is all about.

There was no large department store for the wise men to stop at on the way to receive him. There was not a hospital gift shop to stop in to buy a, “Congratulations, it’s a boy,” balloon. They did not jump in their cars or get on a bus, plane or train to get to his birth on time. No, they had to travel by starlight, over hill and dell with a team of camels.

I often wonder if they felt like some of us at times and did not want to go, feeling it was an inconvenience to go see a baby not related to them about whom they had heard so much.

The little drummer boy he had heard so much about this baby, too, and wanted to meet him so badly. But he was just a poor shepherd boy and he had no gift. You see, that was alright because his heart was in the right place. He went anyway with high hopes of just catching a glimpse of this miracle baby. What touches my heart about this story is that even though he had no material gift, he wanted to share his talent. He told the baby’s mother he had no gift, but could honor his birth by playing his drum. Music always seems to soothe children and the baby in the manager was no exception.

Not all the time do we have to show up with the most expensive gift money can buy. Sometimes, just sometimes take a chance and give to others your presence and talents.

I really can’t speculate on how frantic Mary and Joseph must have been, knowing that she was about to deliver a child and they had not a place to lay her head or that of her newborn child. But as we all know, where there is a will, there is a way. In the end, it all worked to the good. The baby was born healthy, he was received with love by his family and people who did not know him had unconditional love in their hearts for him.

As we approach Christmas, let us all try to emulate those of old and give with our hearts and our talents. It is not about how much we spend, but the spirit in which we give. Have a safe and happy holiday season.

Shonna Sheckles works in Elizabethtown and lives in Bardstown. She can be reached at kyclassie78@hotmail.com.