Letter to the Editor

To be a child on Christmas again

Saturday, December 28, 2019

To the editor:

Here it is, December 17th, a week before Christmas Eve and boy have things changed throughout the years.

As a child growing up in the early 60’s, things were so intriguing. There were lights, snowmen in the yards, lawn settings of nativity scenes, wreathes on the doors of homes and just an all around Christmas atmosphere.

You went to the stores because there really were not malls then but they were beginning to sprout up, to see the chubby ol’ man in a red suit to tell your every request to. You came home and you had the most beautiful tree with different colored bulbs on it and Christmas ornaments. Your house had odors of freshly cooked food. Candy on the tables, presents under the tree and only three or four channels to watch on TV and they all had Christmas shows on them. “Frosty the Snowman,” “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” “Bing Crosby” and just so many more.

Then on Christmas morning you would wake up, still tired because you could not fall asleep from excitement thinking of Christmas morning. You get up at the crack of dawn or even still dark, dragging your parents out of bed screaming, “Santa Claus came, c’mon hurry.” Then you run out to the living room and there it was in all of its glory, unwrapped gifts you know were not there when you went to bed, screaming, “He did come, he did come.” Not a care in the world as a child on Christmas morning not really understanding the true meaning behind Christmas Day.

Now it is 2019 and Christmas has become so commercialized it is unbelievable. You do not see the lights like you use to. Sure, you may see a house or two with some resemblance of lights and the blow up snowmen and Santa Claus’ strewn about the yard, all deflated lying on the ground.

Big family gatherings are not happening because nobody has the time to plan things and they do not really want a big mess in their homes. Kids sleep in because they already know what they are getting or even have already been given their gifts because they just want to sleep in.

A young child is brought up not believing in Santa Claus because their parents think it is too stupid for a child to imagine things. Even stores are open now instead of allowing their employees to spend time with their families because of wanting to make the all mighty buck or two.

The same has come about when it comes to believing in the reason for the season, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is very disheartening, knowing a child is raised without the faith of God. And people want to know why people act and live like they do today. All of the fighting, arguing about who is wrong and who is right. Congresspersons and senators have been doing it for years and now they got their wishes because they want everyone to be unhappy and upset with the world. I have never seen grown adults sulk and pout because they did not get their ways.

I got an idea. Close your eyes and think back when you were a child on Christmas morning, what it felt like then. No worries, no cares and no hate.

Think about it…

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

Roger Burton

Poplar Bluff, Missouri