We need a little Christmas

'We Need a Little Christmas'

Preface / Introduction

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Table of Contents

1. How to keep Christmas well in your heart throughout the year 2. 'We need a little Christmas.' Why I'm working hard right this minute to make Christmas 2011 thebest ever.

How to keep Christmas well in your heart throughout the yearby Dr. Jeffrey Lant

"and it was always said of Ebenezer Scrooge, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any manalive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Timobserved, God bless Us, Every One!"

The words, of course, are from Charles Dickens' masterful "A Christmas Carol" published in 1843, apresent the world gratefully rediscovers each and every year. They remind us that Christmas, to beChristmas, must be about magic and memories, remembering both those who are with us and(especially) those who are not.. Christmas this year, as every year, began for me by unpacking mylittle electrified tree. It is battered now and bears its many bruises proudly if carefully.

All at once, I give way to memories insistent, vivid, one tumbling over another. The box opens andrecollections of one year of my life after another pour out. First, I remember the day mygrandmother gave me this marvelous present and how she solemnly told me to take good care of it,as she had done.

I agreed to do so, little knowing the significance or the power of what I promised. Now I know, forthis year I am older than she was when she gave it to me... and I now ponder who, in due course, Imust present this tree to and who will keep the faith of generations with me. You see, I have arrivedat the stage of life when Christmas is far more about who I shall give to... rather than who will giveto me.

It cheers

My little tree (circa 1935), just 16 inches tall, literally bubbles with colorful cheer. It is called abubbler because its bulbs not only light up and glow... but one after another they bubble, except(some days) the one at the very top which, eccentrically,often fails to bubble at all. Moreover, whenone bulb goes out.... they all go out which means a patient review of all. However, I wouldn't have itany other way. Age means appreciating even flaws, for they, too, are a part of the whole.

Because I am an historian and like many such have a tendency to collect and keep for a lifetime, Ihave been designated by my extended family as the "keeper", the one it is safe to leave with themementoes we all agree are important, but which no one but me wants to take care of. Once thebubbler tree is set up, other boxes must be opened... and they can only be opened when there issufficient time to pause, remember, reflect, and again and again be seized by their heart-tuggingmemories. One cannot rush this process for the memories will not be denied. They are foreverbittersweet... featuring as they do those loved and gone before. Yes, one must have sufficient timefor them for the memories that cascade at this time of the year are always vivid, poignant, rich... withnew meanings that come as I age.

I smile, for instance, at a styrofoam bell given to me (as to all class members) by Mrs. Eigenbraugh,my third grade teacher. This ornament, a liberty bell, features my teacher in a stately formal pose.She looks at me as the dedicated prairie teacher she was. The autograph reads simply "Mrs.Eigenbraugh, 1955."

I am older now than Mrs. Eigenbraugh was then... and I clearly see her at her desk dutifully,carefully signing each gift in her copperplate hand. She no doubt paid for these herself... and gavethem as a small memento of her and the season... little thinking that I, a half century later, should beso moved at her gift... or her conscientious generosity. Do teachers give as much today?

Just one left

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I was born in 1947 to young parents who had, in those post war years, few dollars and sky-highaspirations, with days and energy to spare. Like everyone else in the neighborhood they had a youngchild, part of that baby boomer wave. For him, they bought a box of colored glass ornaments which Ibroke one by one by getting in my petal powered red car, pushing it backwards across the livingroom... then running car into Christmas tree... full speed ahead. No one seemed to mind. We wereyoung, and we all had time and youth to spend without care.

Now I hold that glass ball in my hand, of faded purple hue. It, along with my father and I, are thesurvivors of this tale. And now this glass ornament, once so little valued that we all laughed everytime I, with my running feet and determined glint, scored a direct hit... now this glass, I say, isprecious and deeply valued as a memento of youth, both my parents and my own, and of thebeautiful dark-haired woman whose carefree laughter and love are as clear in this ornament as if itwere a crystal ball. She told me to take good care of this for there could never be another... I haveand I will. And in time I shall ask of another what she asked of me: to remember.... and to take goodcare. For I am entitled to that as well., having well and truly kept the promise.

Remember and reconnect

Each year about this time, I set out to reconnect with someone from my past with whom I have losttouch, the way one does. Sometimes I succeed in this task; sometimes I don't. When I do... I make apoint of writing them a memorable letter... about how important they are to me... and how well andwhat I remember. Such letters in a lifetime are rare to write and rarer still to receive. I am pleased tosay they always stimulate a similar letter in response. That letter is always amongst my bestChristmas presents. As such I place it carefully among my other treasured gifts and mementos andsavor them as, each year, I take them out and let memory hold sway. Thus, with the help of mydearly beloved, I keep Christmas in my heart all year long, like the better, reformed, wiser EbenezerScrooge.

And so I say to you: God bless us everyone and every loving memory of yore. They make us whatwe are and remind us, lovingly, of where we have been and the people who have helped us along theway in so very many ways.

Merry Christmas!




'We need a little Christmas.' Why I'm working hard right thisminute to make Christmas 2011 the best ever. By Dr. Jeffrey Lant

Author's program note. I was young then, blessed with that overflowing feeling of high animalspirits and joy to the world. It was 1967, I was in New York City for the first time, about to sail toEurope on the SS Aurelia ... The future seemed boundless, was boundless, and I had only goodwishes and to spare for everyone, everywhere.

The only snare was that I couldn't get tickets for "Mame" (music and lyrics by Jerry Herman); the hitmusical based on one of my mother's favorite books, "Auntie Mame" by Patrick Dennis (1955).Bummer. But not down hearted I somehow managed to get a program and discovered when AngelaLansbury, the star, the toast of Broadway, was likely to leave the Winter Garden Theatre. .. and justwhere I could stand for the best chance of getting her autograph.

I well recall the moment she came out the stage door, she was smaller than she appeared on stage...and I remember how the collar of her coat brushed against my cheek... and her scent as she bentdown to autograph the program, a little crushed in my hand. It was lush, seductive, delicious... And Iwas happy...

I have that program still, in good condition, too, a reminder when the song I've chosen for today'stheme music -- "We need a little Christmas" -- was just a peppy, high-stepping, belt-it-out number,not an absolute need for all of us. Start, however, by going to any search engine... get the tune... thenlet 'er rip... it's going to get your blood going, your feet tapping, and maybe even bring a tear to youreye, you sentimental softie you...

"For I've grown a little leaner, Grown a little colder, Grown a little sadder, Grown a little older!"

These words pretty much sum up events since that magic moment at the door of the Winter GardenTheatre -- and I don't merely mean for you and me, either. I mean for America and for our deeplytroubled world. And that is why I am already at work to ensure this Christmas in this year of generaldismay and gloom is the best ever. We need it -- for the good of home, hearth, soul, and, yes, theeconomy.

I began this week.

It is September 25, 2011 as I write, and my dear and valued helpers, Aime Joseph and his soothingwife Mercedes, have commenced Operation Christmas. We started with a herculean task meant tooccur twice each year but often "forgotten" -- polishing the silver. It is arduous, it is wearying, it isdull... and it is a necessary deed in creating the "wow factor" that is such an essential part ofChristmas for me and mine.

The question is, why have we started so early... just what are we doing it for?

Over the last few years I have noticed the inception and development of an invidious trend in meand many others: scaling back, pruning, diminishing the high festival of Christmas. This is a verybad thing... and this year I decided to take constructive action before I bear an even closerapproximation to Ebenezer Scrooge. This called for drastic action... and my better self answered thecall.

Unmarried, no (known) children. Katie Segal made a fortune on "Married with Children"(1987) inwhich she played the ultimate suburban vulgarian wife, Peg. She thought the holiday was for maxingout her credit cards and causing pain to her hapless bills-paying husband. It was funny... because, of




course, we weren't like Peg, no way. But we are... and not, I hasten to add, because we enjoy theconsumer aspect of the event.

I have always thought the sanctimonious folks who decry the blatant commercialism of Christmasand seek to revert to prior usages, pure and holy, misread the original text and allowed themselves tobe hoodwinked by Puritans. Now, lest you think I am anti-Puritan, be aware I am of Puritan heritagemyself. And it pains me to admit, the Puritans got Christmas all wrong and missed its message.

The culprit in the matter was Oliver Cromwell, a man who, saying enough is enough, helped KingCharles I to eternity in 1649 through the simple expedient (as Charles told his horrified children) byseparating His Majesty's head from His Majesty's body. The Lord Protector, more powerful thanmost kings, then lead an effort to root out all vestiges of the traditional high-living EnglishChristmas. And so for 10 years (until his successor son Richard got kicked out in 1659) Cromwelland company worked to make everyone just as miserable and gloomy at Christmas as possible. Thatwas the right and proper thing to do.

For instance, zealous Puritans, rigid, unbending, inflexible, muffed the matter of the Three WiseMen, princes of the Orient. Each, if you'll recall, brought the Christ child very expensive gifts. Theseincluded gold (imagine if they'd held it), frankincense and myhrr. Unless these royalties justhappened to have some extra gifts in their treasure trove (possible, but unlikely) each had to make atrip to the bazaar (which is what people called malls in those days) to scrutinize what was availableand mull over their options.

This is exactly what the non-kingly people do nowadays at Christmas, parking their cars (easier tohandle than malodorous camels which spit), returning over and over to get just the right gift, the giftthat will say loudly and clearly, "I care." So, where's the problem? Christmas, in short, has had apronounced commercial aspect from the first moment. People should get over it and get on with thereal business of the event: love!

Whether you consider the matter from the vantage point of God to man -- "For God so loved theworld that he gave his only begotten son" (John 3:16) ---

... or from the vantage point of human relations, the fact is that Christmas is the prime event of everyyear based on, all about, and dedicated to love. And we humans after this storm-tossed year shouldembrace the event and enjoy it for what it is: a chance to love one another, be kind to each other,embrace our diversity, and give the embedded rancors of our deeply fissured planet a rest... even ifwe know, as we do, they'll be back in the new year. Even a little solace helps. We need it, we musthave it, and we deserve it.

And because I have been, shall we say, neglectful both about giving and taking love, I have a hugelove deficit to make up for... and so Christmas 2011 must be done right in every nuance and detail...and this takes time, care, and thoughtfulness.

Cleaning the silver is just the beginning.

And then like the score says, "Candles in the window/Carols at the spinet."

And gifts for all... and not merely anything grabbed at the eleventh hour Christmas Eve either... forthe gift must be as special as the beloved who gets it...

All this takes time... meticulous attention to detail... and, most of all, love...

And it is this love, in short supply in years past, suppressed, which is the most important thing ofall... This year will be different, for this year that love will flow without stint... as a resolutedeclaration to everyone, everywhere that this is a place where humanity is made welcome and where




we know the true meaning of Christmas... and mean to have it! Share it! And renew it...

Knowing this, can you wonder why I am starting so early here? The wonder is that you have notcommenced early, for your need is pressing, too.




ResourceAbout The Author Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., where small andhome-based businesses learn how to profit online. Attend Dr. Lant's live webcast TODAY andreceive 50,000 free guaranteed visitors to the website of your choice! Fr. Lant is a well knownspeaker, consultant and author of 18 best-selling business books.

Republished with author's permission by Elizabeth English http://LizsWorldprofit.com.



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We need a little Christmas