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What am I going to get for Christmas????

Bird123

Well-Known Member
What am I going to get for Christmas seems to be the question many ask. Will it be a new computer, the latest tech gadget, a 1000 dollar iphone, or maybe a new car?

Christmas is also the time people take measure of their lives. Many measure their worth by the physical things they receive or the physical possessions they have acquired in life. Since we are all Spiritual beings in our true natures, how can one measure how one defines themselves by money or a few physical items? As I see it, you can't.

Is life really about physical possessions, what people have given us, or even having it made and being rich? Isn't life about sharing and expressing that which is Special about ourselves with the world? Should we not measure our lives by how we touch others rather than how others touch us?

Some might say that if we receive no physical gifts from others that we have not touched anyone. This might not be true. The mistake here might be Focus. Should the focus on life be Me! Me! Me?
How can one express that which is Special about themselves if it's all about Me! Me! Me? As I see it, you can't.

I have seen selfish people claw claw claw trying to get get get. Further, most of the time it's about acquiring more money or possessions. They can hurt many people on their path to get. I have discovered those who give give give will usually get much more than those clawing to get.

I have seen enough Christmases so what physical thing could you get me? I have seen or gotten it all so what do those physical gifts really mean? What gifts are remembered the most? Does anyone even remember the physical gifts at all?

Since we are Spiritual beings in our true natures, won't the Spiritual gifts matter and hang with us the most? Let me tell you of a Spiritual gift I received. Years and years ago, a little girl was very young and very excited about Christmas. When she opened a gift, she would cry out:“Oh, it's just what I've always wanted!” After opening the next gift, she would cry out: “Oh, it's just what I've always wanted!” Seems after opening every gift, she would cry out: “Oh, it's just what I've always wanted!” Now, every gift couldn't be just what she always wanted, however you might just be surprised how much joy that little girl generated and never realized it. Since we are all empathic, she touched everyone Spiritually in the room. Everyone could feel the joy of: “Oh, it's just what I've always wanted!” This is a Gift I received for Christmas I will never forget and it cost the little girl nothing. Is it beyond us all to give Spiritual Gifts to others as well? I don't think so.

As I see it, that's what we should make Christmas about. We can touch the lives of people around us Spiritually if we do not make it about us. Unconditional Love always does what is best for the other. Really look at those around you. What do they need to grow Spiritually? Share that which is Special about you with them. Nourish the Love and Joy you are capable of generating in them. If you do, I'm willing to bet what you receive in the end is a real life filled with joy and things you will never forget.

It doesn't matter what everyone else does. It's what you choose to do that counts. As I see it. Life can be Grand if we nourish those Spiritual things first. In doing so we will never have to worry about self worth again. Like a magnet, people will flock to you to share that which is Very Special about you.


AND A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tell me what you think. Tell me the things about Christmas you remember the most.
 

Brickjectivity

Turned to Stone. Now I stretch daily.
Staff member
Premium Member
One time I was alone in a city and could not visit family for Christmas, but somebody invited me to their celebration. Invite someone for dinner who can't return the favor.
 

RabbiO

הרב יונה בן זכריה
Well, I remember one December 25th when an elderly neighbor asked me to stop over. When I got there I found a living room filled with elderly folks. My neighbor then said, "We understand you don't celebrate our Christmas. Whose Christmas do you celebrate?"

I looked at her and said, "I'm a Jew. We don't celebrate any Christmas." She looked at me, said, "Oh" and then ushered me out the door.

That's the Christmas I remember best.
 

RabbiO

הרב יונה בן זכריה
One time I was alone in a city and could not visit family for Christmas, but somebody invited me to their celebration. Invite someone for dinner who can't return the favor.

I've had people over for dinner on Erev Shabbat, Erev Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, Pesach for Seders, and multiple other occasions. I confess, though, I have never had anyone come for Christmas dinner.
 

Brickjectivity

Turned to Stone. Now I stretch daily.
Staff member
Premium Member
I've had people over for dinner on Erev Shabbat, Erev Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, Pesach for Seders, and multiple other occasions. I confess, though, I have never had anyone come for Christmas dinner.
Erev Shabbat, Erev Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, Pesach. Those last two I recognize! Erev probably means... Christmas. So it means Christmas Shabbat and Christmas Rosh Hashanah. Am I right? Let me get my concordance. You folks have so many Christmases. I always wondered what Santa did for the rest of the year.
 

Brickjectivity

Turned to Stone. Now I stretch daily.
Staff member
Premium Member
Well, I remember one December 25th when an elderly neighbor asked me to stop over. When I got there I found a living room filled with elderly folks. My neighbor then said, "We understand you don't celebrate our Christmas. Whose Christmas do you celebrate?"

I looked at her and said, "I'm a Jew. We don't celebrate any Christmas." She looked at me, said, "Oh" and then ushered me out the door.

That's the Christmas I remember best.
That's terrible! *sigh* They kicked you out.
 

RabbiO

הרב יונה בן זכריה
Erev Shabbat, Erev Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, Pesach. Those last two I recognize! Erev probably means... Christmas. So it means Christmas Shabbat and Christmas Rosh Hashanah. Am I right? Let me get my concordance. You folks have so many Christmases. I always wondered what Santa did for the rest of the year.
Oh my, the secret is out. Santa's real name is Avraham Claustein.
He really doesn't make toys at the North Pole. It's really just an Amazon fulfillment center.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
For a few years, after the Christmas break. back when I taught, I used to have a classroom discussion on 'What did I GIVE for Christmas.' just to add some perspective.
 

savagewind

Veteran Member
Premium Member
I was the only Jehovah's Witness in my family and all my extended family. I would go along to be with my family when they did Christmas. I didn't give or receive any gifts.
One day at my mom's Christmas Eve celebration while I was standing off and observing and I shall confess enjoying the scene, I saw my mom struggling to open a present. It seems that I alone noticed her. I opened it for her. That is my favorite Christmas memory.

Someone on Facebook shared an admirable Chrismas reflection. I can't share it as it is shown on Facebook, but this is what it says.:

I don't want much for Chrismas. I just want the person who is reading this to be healthy, happy, and loved.


That is what I think the Spirit of Christ is.
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
Oh my, the secret is out. Santa's real name is Avraham Claustein.
Rabbi Claustein, is that really you?! Maybe it's the old-man's beard that kept me from recognizing you, but I do admire how it matches your beady eyes.
 

Brickjectivity

Turned to Stone. Now I stretch daily.
Staff member
Premium Member
Better that than for me to appear ungracious by declining, if offered, the ham I saw on her dining room table!
I don't understand why people choose ham when they could have chicken or beef. Ham is comparatively less good. Consider what restaurants use in hamburgers. If you order a hamburger they don't even use ham for that, because ham is not as tasty. It doesn't accept the flavors of other things. Nobody would want an actual ham burger. Ham overpowers the flavor of whatever it goes into. No doubt if you eat you you taste like it.
Oh my, the secret is out. Santa's real name is Avraham Claustein.
He really doesn't make toys at the North Pole. It's really just an Amazon fulfillment center.
Also, Amazon isn't located in the Amazon. I have obtained this information from a reliable source, someone who works directly with Santa's elves in their dreidel processing division. He's a temp.
 

It Aint Necessarily So

Veteran Member
Premium Member
If you order a hamburger they don't even use ham for that, because ham is not as tasty.

Hamburgers are named after Hamburg, not ham, just as frankfurters are named after Frankfurt, both in Germany

Both of these fine foods made it to the Supreme Court: Felix Frankfurter and Warren Burger.

The wiener was named after Wien, which is Austrian for Vienna. This food didn't make it past Congress.
 

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
I don't understand why people choose ham when they could have chicken or beef.

My family, being Italian-American has to have their meatballs... beef of course. And they slip them in when you least expect it. You can't have pasta without the sauce being tainted by the meatballs. I think it's a law, actually. Not having them or not eating them is punishable by the rest of the family saying in unison "yoor-a dead-a to me... yoor-a no familee to me! You no 'dalian... you middigan, you!" and breaking the wooden spoon. Much as the High Priest of Israel was required to rend his garments when he heard blasphemy. Actually, I think he had more wiggle room than Italians have on the meatballs issue. Needless to say I'm high on the list of excommunicated family members. :D
 

Jesster

Friendly skeptic
Premium Member
I don't have many fond memories of Christmas. When I was a kid, it meant social anxiety and avoiding my dad's temper until it was over. Now I just try to wait it out and not think about it much until January comes. I don't really care for presents that much.

My boyfriend's family has been inviting me to their massive Christmas celebrations for the last couple years, and I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm still not comfortable with it. I play along for their benefit though, since they're nice people.

Sorry for the sob story. I get this way this time of year. The Jesst will return when the Christmas lights come down.
 

RabbiO

הרב יונה בן זכריה
I have obtained this information from a reliable source, someone who works directly with Santa's elves in their dreidel processing division. He's a temp.

One word of advice, never loan any money to any of the elves if you expect to be paid back. They're always ......... short.
 

Bird123

Well-Known Member
One time I was alone in a city and could not visit family for Christmas, but somebody invited me to their celebration. Invite someone for dinner who can't return the favor.

Yes, that can be really good. No one should ever be alone. Further, interaction with new people can always be a plus in ways we might not think about at the time.
 
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