Fat Guy in a Red Suit
by
Marilyn Mackenzie
(Age: 56)
copyright 11-30-2001
Age Rating: 10 to 127
As the Regional Director for a Christmas home party sales company, I often struggled with the commercialism of Christmas. But there were things I loved about that job. I enjoyed helping other women discover their creative talents and abilities. More importantly, I enjoyed being able to share the joy and the spirit and the true meaning of Christmas all year long.
This job helped me in many ways. I learned to be a confident speaker, which eventually led to training as a lay speaker in church. And the sales and presentation skills learned and taught to others transferred well to other sales opportunities.
The opportunities I had to speak with groups of women, from as few as three to as many as 300, about the meaning of Christmas, about family traditions, and about God were and remain precious memories.
Today women are busier than ever before! Isn't that ironic, considering the many tools we have to make our lives easier? My mother had a wringer washer and washing took an entire day. Clothing was made of cotton, which wrinkled, and ironing was something that also occupied wash day. Today we have automatic washers, our clothing is made of non-wrinkling materials, and we wouldn't even consider ironing sheets! We have microwave ovens for faster cooking, mixers and blenders and food processors. Yet, our lives are so much busier.
Whether one is a mother working outside the home or one of the growing numbers of stay-at-home moms, women are busier than ever before. Many stay-at-home moms have taken on the role of educator in home schools. We are so busy.
What mustn't be lost in our busyness is learning about the rich traditions of our own families and of our country. Our children and grandchildren need to learn about those former traditions. And, it's important that we start new traditions that fit into our busy lives.
When I asked one neighborhood child recently what she and her family usually did at Christmas time. she looked confused and had no answer. Her family had no traditions. What will that child have to remember about Christmas except the gifts that she received? She won't have memories of attending Christmas Eve worship service with her family, of visiting nursing homes, or of Christmas caroling, because none of these activities were part of her Christmas. She'll remember a fat guy in a red suit. And she will remember Christmas as a time of receiving instead of a time of giving.
It's important for grandmas to write a book about their memories of Christmases past to give as gifts to their grandchildren. Mothers and grandmothers need to join together to introduce new traditions into their families. Even busy moms can buy frozen cookie dough at the grocery, cookie cutters and Christmas sprinkles. Christmas music should resound through our homes as we decorate and make gifts. The only TV programs or videotapes we should watch during the Christmas season are the wonderful Christmas stories of old.
After making cookies, why not deliver them to your neighbors and nursing homes. Save Christmas cards to make ornaments and give them away. Isn't it time that we teach our children the gift of giving rather than receiving? And, if our children's friends have parents who are not sharing like experiences, why not include them in your festivities?
It is so important that our children learn the true meaning of Christmas. They need to understand that we are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Ever wonder how you’d feel if it were your birthday and your friends and family members exchanged gifts with each other, but ignored you entirely? Ever wonder how Jesus feels?
Jesus is the reason for the season! Without him, there is no such thing as Christmas!
Are you an advertisement for a fat guy in a red suit or for a babe lying in a manger?
Help Us Stop Plagiarism -
Nearly all works at PnP are original. However a few people choose to plagiarize.
To check, choose a phrase from the work, then either drag and drop to the search box or copy and paste.
click on search and works at Google will be shown which match. Just to be sure, please do this before
you recommend or rate the work highly...
Betty, I've always loved the guy in the red suit too. But what concerns me is when all the focus is on him and not our Lord. A church in Florida started a wonderful tradition. They celebrated Dec. 6 as St. Nicholas day and explained what a wonderful man St. Nick was and how we've tried to copy his generosity by givig gifts to each other. There focus for the Christmas celebration was fully focused on Jesus, and on Christmas Eve, everyone brought a special gift for the Lord. It's a tradition that church has continued, and they've been blessed by it.
Merry Christmas! The spirit of giving is what I see in the man in the red suit. St Nicholas in all forms warms my heart. It is an outward manifestation of giving to all. Christmas Eve I think of the Baby who was about to be born so long ago. Christmas morning I think of him again.
This is a very well written article and very timely.
This is well written. I believe it's not so much that we, as women, are busier today, I believe it's that we are busier in different ways. We also have societal expectations upon us to "do it all" then wonder why we burn.
Christmas is a hard time for many people. We have such a melding of spiritualities that not all celebrate this time of year, yet the expectation is that we do. Or perhaps your family doesn't have the money. I love your suggestion to start your own tradition - teach children to give rather than recieve.
I recall being at a client's home when Santa Anymonyous came to her door. Her face lit up and we had so much fun putting all the food in the fridge and cupboards. We baked the cake up right away. She cried over the turkey. Suddenly it felt festive - we decorated her home and I left knowing she'd have a wonderful Christmas with her son.
Your job as Regional Director sounded like it was a terrific one. Enjoyed reading this thought-provoking article.
Marilyn, As usual, your write has given me insight into what I'm forgetting this season. Times are hard, and the chores are mounting up, this has made me forget that Christmas is more than just running to Wal-Mart, it's a time to come closer to God. Great write. Thank you for helping me to realize where I'm "falling down". Jackie
Great write and some food for thought as well. We've had some hardships lately and it has taught my kids to appreciate things that had been taken for granted before (like running water, which we will hopefully have before Christmas).
We hand down family stories each year. Each ornament on our tree has a story behind it, where it was bought, who made it, etc. Putting up the tree takes all day as the Christmas memories unfold and are passed down to the next generation. My daughter thinks the fat guy in red merely helps momma provide presents, and that Jesus' birth is the real meaning of Christmas.
Welcome !
