Curmudgeon's Corner
cur-mud-geon: anyone who hates hypocrisy and pretense and has the temerity to say so; anyone with the habit of pointing out unpleasant facts in an engaging and humorous manner
Joy and Sadness; Sadness and Joy...
Joy and sadness. Sadness and joy. Those mixed themes continue to course through my mind as this most joyous of holidays approaches.
The joy of the Christmas season is upon us and it always brings smiles and the feeling of goodness from within. I wrote yesterday of some of those little joys as seen in the eyes of children.
There are those who are suffering during this joyous time, and some of those will likely not be with us much longer, at least here on this earth. Some who suffer wonder where and when they will get a job so they can pay their bills and feed their families. Some, who suffer, suffer from physical maladies. Some, who suffer, suffer from the maladies of troubled minds.
Mixed feelings are abundant during this season. On the one hand, we reflect on the good things we’ve enjoyed during the past nearly twelve months. On the other hand, we also reflect on those things we might’ve handled differently to avoid damaging relationships or damaging self. Our hospitals are no less full just because Christmas approaches. Funerals continue to be planned and conducted, even as we celebrate the birth of our Savior.
I have noticed that, with age, there comes a bit more reflection. Not that I am maudlin or depressed. I am very happy and have every reason to be happy. I simply am more capable of slowing the process and of thinking of those whom I may’ve wronged, either intentionally or unintentionally. I think of those whom I wish I had dealt with differently than I chose to at the time.
Rather than regrets, I see these reflections as being something that will help me to be a little bit better person in the future. We all learn from our experience, if we are that fortunate. If we don’t learn from our experience, we are sentenced to repeat those things we’d have done differently. It would be a shame to have gone through the anguish without having gained something from the experience.
My wish for all would be simple: may we all remember the reason for the celebrations of this season; and, may we all be a bit better, a bit kinder, a bit more understanding in our relationships in the next year.
Merry Christmas! And may His peace and joy accompany you into the New Year.
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