When I think about the meaning of Christmas, I think about relationships. The Christmas story itself is about a relationship of a man and a woman and their son, a Father and His Son, and that Son’s relationship with all of us. “Unto us a Child is born.”

Through the years, in the Christian community, as well as the secular community, the season marks a time for families to gather together, to share expressions of their love for each other by spending time together, with gifts and to pause to ponder the power of peace on Earth.

In practical terms, how can you and I create the peace the Christmas season expresses? In the classic Christmas movies many of us must view to feel we’ve really embraced the season, we get some hints. “It’s a Wonderful Life” speaks to the power of family and community supporting each other through the difficult times. “White Christmas” celebrates the joy of giving and the sacrifices our veterans make, “Merry Christmas Charlie Brown” reminds us that the season is not about the decorations and the presents, but a time to remember the meaning of Christmas — Peace on Earth and Goodwill Toward All. And finally, the Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol” in which the ghosts of past, present and future help a bitter Scrooge embrace the people in his life with love.

Life, as you know, never quite plays out like the movies. However, we can commit this Christmas season to manifest peace and goodwill to all in our lives. Here are a few ideas:

• Prepare Early ~ Don’t be a last minute shopper. Organize your list of gifts and celebrations and use each of them as an opportunity to share God’s love. I pray for you joy in abundance and laughter, for laughter and joy makes our spirits soar.

• Keep Christ at the Center ~ Don’t become overwhelmed by commercialism. Read one of the Gospels and think about what it means to have Christ in your life. I pray that you keep Christ in the season because Jesus is the reason for the season.

• Make Christmas a Family Time ~ Do preparations together, decorate the tree, string lights around the house, bake cookies and write cards together. Look for opportunities to laugh and enjoy. I pray for love for your families. Don’t keep your love a secret. Someone needs to hear and feel your love for them.

• Remember those in need ~ Give money through your local church or other charities. Do something for an elderly neighbor or for someone who can’t care for themselves. I pray for you compassion, for we cannot help others until we understand them, and we cannot understand them until we walk in their shoes.

• ReKindle your friendships and contacts ~ Who have you not connected with lately? Give them a call, drop them an email, invite them out for a cup of coffee, get out and make a personal impact today.

  I pray for you a heart so full of love that every day you must give some away to those whose paths you cross.

• Remember and support our troops ~ While we are enjoying a festive Christmas season, they are sacrificing their lives for us by defending our freedom. Please prepare packages and send them to our military overseas. I pray that you remember the great people in our military in our prayers and our service to them. Remember, freedom is not free!

• Forgiveness ~ Do you have a friendship that is strained? Did you injure a relationship with words or deeds? There is no better time for forgiveness than now. The first person that you ask for forgiveness for is yourself. Forgiveness is freeing up and putting to better use the energy once consumed by holding grudges, harboring resentments, and nursing unhealed wounds. It is rediscovering the strengths we always had and relocating our limitless capacity to understand and accept other people and ourselves. I pray for you tears when you need them, for tears clear the eyes to see the stars and cleanse the soul to let the healing begin.

• Gather your family and attend a Christmas Worship Service ~ Church is still the best place to hear the message of the birth of our Savior. Reevaluate your commitment to serve Christ. There is no better response to Christmas than a renewed spirit. I pray for you unwavering faith, for faith shapes our morals and our destiny and draws us closer to God.

Those are a few suggested actions, but each of us needs to search our own hearts. I am confident that when you do, you will know the ways you will bring peace on earth and goodwill to all this Christmas season.

I wish you a very blessed and Merry Christmas!

Blessings in abundance,

Sharon McGee