It’s Christmas Eve and I hope that all of you are surrounded by those you love, because that is the Spirit of Christmas. It’s the gift that surpasses all others.

As the Christ gave selflessly to us all, so do we give to others. That giving and good will are part of this Season makes the institution of Christmas even more profound.

Those who disparage Christmas, and we hear it every single year, can live their lives selfish and alone. There is no joy in that. But there it is.
While we sit safe and warm at home, there are others on the line, looking out for us in hospitals, in police cars, on fire trucks, and in the military where war could break out (in North Korea) at any moment. Every year I pick out a ship in the US Navy that I know to be deployed and send goodies that they enjoy including books and other gee-dunk that sailors appreciate. I’m a Navy guy, so that’s how I roll. The Navy is forward deploying ships with reckless abandon these days and keeping crews on board without rotating them. It burns out the crews and their ships – for the sake of our continued wellbeing. It’s easy to find a forward deployed ship and sailors who will find value in Grey Man novels by Old NFO, etc.
There’s also the food bank. It’s Christmas Eve. You can fight the crowds at Sam’s Club or Costco to get a few flats of chili or corn and drop them off.  Up to you.
Then again, the food banks and settlement houses and other charitable organizations usually have empty shelves after Christmas. Nobody should be hungry in America. Not ever. I’m disturbed by the notion that it is the case…and sadly it is.
I know that some of you are on the naughty list. Fredd is and will pay for it by getting a chipped tooth from eating Aunt Sally’s banana pudding. LSP is on the good list and won’t get coal in his stocking. Juliette (in England) who follows this blog, has pneumonia and is down for the count over the holiday season…clearly a victim of the naughty list.  Adrienne, living in the cold of North Idaho will receive goodies from Costco…Santa can predict these things…she’s clearly on the good list.
Naughty or nice, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

30 COMMENTS

  1. From a place closer to the North Pole, I hope you will enjoy a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Take care in the new year and let us hope it will bring new prosperous opportunities.

  2. Norway is clearly closer to Santa's Village! Yes, let's hope that 2018 opens many new business opportunities and fun, which is just as important. Merry Christmas to you and your fine family. And since there are wolves out in the country near Oslo, be careful.

  3. Even though I am high up there on the naughty list, I expect that this coming year will be a good one: Aunt Sally is having a Christmas potluck! OTHER people will be bringing food to Aunt Sally's! There truly IS a God!

    Merry Christmas, LL.

  4. Merry Christmas to you as well LL. I like your pick-a-ship tradition. I know what it's like to be deployed and far from home at this time of year and little things like that mean a lot. Bless you for doing this.

  5. Thanks LL for your concern, I am prepared for the wolfs in many aspects. I agree, let's have some fun in 2018!

  8. Sending goodies to a deployed ship? What a wonderful thing to do, LL.

    And lucky Fredd. Let's all give a cheer for potluck.

    Sorry about Juliette.

    LSP is on the very good list.

    You may want to rethink my position on the good list. I am but a poor wretch on the walk of life.

    Have a wonderful day with your lovely family, LL. Next year you'll be celebrating at the White Wolf Mine. Yay!

  12. Christmas blessings are clearly headed your way, and you'll be able to dine like a king. Merry Christmas to you, Mrs. Fredd and young Ms. Fredd.

  13. Being deployed at Christmas is miserable. Ships now have the internet and crew members have e-mail, but it doesn't matter. It's not home. Anything that can be done to lighten their burden is a good thing.

  15. Thanks for not taunting me with your pecan pies. I bought a small (less than a pound) bag in the store the other day and it was $11.00. In LINDAG land they fall from the sky.

    Merry Christmas to you and to your family.

  18. Everyone needs a PSG.

    Thank God that we finally have an American President, who loves God and Country.

    The last one (our first Post-American President) was a disaster.

  22. A very Merry Christmas to you, my friend. You live in Santa's mountain stronghold (south) where the Reindeer rest and replenish.

Comments are closed.