Here in North America children could hardly wait for the publishing and distribution of the “Christmas Wish Books” put out by the two major Department stores. Well… there were two as I grew up in Eastern Canada! I am not aware of the advent of the books, but in the 1950s through the 1980s at least, they were a thing of joy, to be awaited by most children, regardless of economic status or cultural background. What held the interest of children during those years, was the seemingly unending well of potential of things to ask Santa for. It was hard to imagine how Santa could carry all those varieties of toys, along with other requests worldwide, to all those children on Christmas Eve. Perhaps, that was not utmost in our minds at the time, but oh what a wonder it all was to receive the notice of that catalog, to be had the next time our parents entered the catalog office in our local towns, or at the nearby Post Office.
Each child had their own way of marking an item to make sure “their” wishes were noted and in many cases, added to the list which Santa would receive before Christmas. No one wanted to be missed and though on many occasions (more than we would want to realize even now perhaps) those wishes did not come true for all. Yet, come the fall of the year, there was a new potential for a list to be made, even if what had been wished the previous year had not been received. Many of us in our country have watched the movie “Miracle on 34th Street”. In that wonderful Christmas movie, though very fanciful in nature, the mother tells her small daughter not to lose hope, but instead, to keep on believing.
I have often wondered where that bit of reassuring advice has gotten many of the have-nots through the years; those who have looked at the proverbial “Wish Books” of this world, and found life to remain “still lacking” at the end of the day? Do you remember what you looked at, in hope, for Christmas? Depending upon the generation you were born into, your culture, economic situation, and family environment, there could be many variables. I was born into an upper lower class family who had to struggle but made their way at a reasonable level of comfort in life. There were “things” that I wanted as I poured through the Wish Book on its arrival. One year, in particular, I must have been on a pirate theme mode during the pre-Christmas season. I wanted a sword for Christmas. My idea of a sword was one that could be hung on my belt and wielded with gusto at any opposing foe that dared cross my path. At that age, as I was only about 10 years old, it seemed like the “foe” lurked in every corner of the community. I didn’t get what I expected, though I did get a sword. It was ornamental, not as practical as I had hoped.
Is there a difference between getting what we want and receiving practical alternatives that may at the time not seem to fit the bill? Truly, during the moment of discovery, especially for a youngster who has received the “As good as” items, many will try to put on a surprised face, showing a modicum of elation at the thought put into the gift, but there is always a hint of disappointment that is registered. Some may say, it is quite often more than a hint, but I am trying to stay “soft” on my appraisal of the situation. We grow up with hopes, dreams, and desires, which we all register to a certain degree. It is not always enough to receive just the “second best” or “as good as” alternatives for dreams or deep down wishes in life. There are many avenues of advancing our character and not all are the “best” or most helpful. It is up to each individual to make their own way steadfastly into the future, and not all disappointments tend to send us down a better path in life. Disappointments, due to lack of fulfillment of every wish need not be a “game killer” but may merely be a “game changer”… We need to know the difference if we are going to thrive, not just survive.
Back to that sword; I was disappointed, though I tried to laugh while being told that I couldn’t take it outdoors to play. It hung on my bedroom wall for years and is now hanging on our cottage wall where I can see it whenever I visit there. The level of disappointment I felt then has been outweighed by the joy I now feel, being reminded of the care, thought and resourcefulness that my parents put into getting that sword for me. They understood that a real sword, though part of my utopian wish list, might only get me into trouble, far deeper than being bullied by neighbourhood kids. There is a superficiality to our wishes most times that may well border on the ridiculous, to say the least. Have you noted that in your life thus far? We oft base what we want far outside the perimeters of what is reasonable, based on both need and financial viability. I have dreamed (wished for) about many things in life and some of those things which I helped come to fruition, have not always been the best choices for myself or my family in the larger picture. Most would echo some of those same sentiments, I am sure. After all, we are creatures of a hedonistic nature… more is better, and I want what I want.
I digress as per usual! “Game changers” can often be viewed as disappointments, but more often can hold forth great potential for growth. Those Christmas Wish Books were pretty well worn out when Christmas day arrived. Looking back, I know that so was much of the staple clothing which I received the previous Christmas was ending their cycle of life. Under the tree we found new outfits, meaning jeans, shirts, and the necessities that made everyday life a bit more tenable. While not always receiving what we wanted every year, there were those Christmas’ that afforded us new opportunities, or enhanced opportunities, that were quite unexpected. As a youth I skated on a small brook (yes, thin ice!), the ice-covered dirt road in front of our home, and even our driveway, if it was ice-covered in the winter. Now that was hard on skate blades! The year I got new skates that fit, I was allowed to join the neighbourhood kids to go to the “Crusher” to skate. It was a large pond where teens and adults alike gathered to skate, play hockey, and socialize, in a period that spanned many decades, until the town built first a new outdoor rink and then the “new arena” (now several decades old).
Those skates allowed me to reach a new level of proficiency, I learned to play hockey, and because of that, I enjoyed many weekends joining adults playing hockey on nearby lakes and ponds in my teenage years. I was later asked to play on the High School Hockey Team under the tutelage of a gentleman who came from the L.A. Kings farm team and was teaching in our High School at the time. Skates helped expand my athletic abilities, taught me the importance of team effort, a balance taught me the importance of single effort versus playing cooperatively.
Today, (meaning in this time in history) there are still wishes being made. I was surprised when I went to the mail and received a new style “Wish Book” this fall. It was not like the old standbys of days gone by, it was new, up-to-date and all the pages were shiny thick paper, displaying the latest of items to attract the interest and desires of this generation’s children. Our grandchildren came to visit and spent only a short time looking at the book. I was both surprised and interested at first. It did not take long to realize that they had a different set of values upon which they based their wishes. I am not saying that they are “perfect” or above wanting “great stuff” , but they have a sense that there are simple things, within both the reach of their parents and well within the practical needs that they face day to day. Just like the need to have a slate for school in the 1920s, now children grow up with electronic devices that are almost a must if they are to keep up with what is taking place in the classroom. I do not cringe at that reality, for I took on computer studies in 1980 and have never looked back since. So, I have an appreciation for the basic value of having technology that will “help” advance our children, within the confines of education being the main justification driving their purchase and not mere entertainment as a provision for child care to keep them busy and out from under-foot.
Do I wish for anything anymore? Yup! Ok, a bit over the top with my rudimentary vocabulary, but it is realistic… I do say yup! I do also have dreams and wishes that seem like both a good idea and as holding potential for a reasonable dividend in life. My sounding board happens to be my wife, and helpmate, in daily decision making. Lots of things are possible, but just like that “real sword”, not all things are reasonable or tenable in life. I find it necessary most days to take time to “temper” my thoughts, to solidify both my ideals and my ideas on solid ground, beyond those superficialities that tend to creep in. When driven by mere whims, without testing either validity or necessity, we often find a great toll bring taken on our lives. Over-extending oneself physically or financially can make the difference in how the future advances.
So, do I grab the local “new” wish book after the grandkids have finished looking? No, I stick to an even older standard “wish book” that has always been my guide in life... God’s Word! There I find the recipe for life that holds within both the wonders of the Christmas Season and the steps on how to gain the gift that gives “Life”; not only in eternity but also in abundance from day to day. I don’t always keep to the program; I like most in life fall down, turn a blind eye, close my hearing to the soft whisper of God’s voice in my daily living, thus missing the mark. But, I believe, I pray for forgiveness for both what I have done and what I have left undone and even those things that I may not be aware of myself. I don’t believe in Santa Clause! Oh, the shame of it… well, I feel no shame… I believe in a greater gift-giver and try my best to follow the path that will one day take me home to my final rest. Yes, under a Christmas tree will be presents, but surrounding me will be those greater gifts, provided by a God who loves, who has provided, and continues to provide all I need in a family, friends, and supporters who pray for me and mine.
What is found in your “Wish Book” this Christmas Season? Everything in mine is free… yes FREE for the asking. Unlike those “others”, in God’s Word, there are actually two wishes found present. One is God’s wish for us, fulfilled in the “Christ” of the promise given, and the other is His wish to have us worship Him as “King of Kings “and “Lord of Lords” … through that infant King in Bethlehem’s manger. It is not an easy decision for some to realize in their lives. To call upon a “Heavenly Father- God” when their earthly father may have disappointed them, a barrier often more than difficult to both approach and overcome has been erected; it is a powerful deterrent to belief. But, like life’s situations present, there is a need to approach the edge sometimes. There is something that draws most to find answers when the fear of knowing makes the exploration necessary to do so, less than justifiable. But, I find that I need to walk near the edge most days. I get too comfortable in quiet solitude, content to be static, surrounded by what is, and not hearing the voice of life beckoning me outside of my comfort zone. I always need the guiding hand of God… that is the gift He gives; a guiding hand is a great gift indeed, and it will never be found in those old “Traditional Wish Books”, or their modern counterparts today. Will you search for answers in the “Greatest Wish Book” this Season? God still grants wishes… He does for me, as ask I PRAY and ask! Give it a try… there near the edge, it can be scary but the view from there is sure peaceful!
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