Let's Put the Mas Back in Christmas!

    Look, I can't help it.  I'm not really that Christian, but I am really that Mexican.  In Spanish, mas means more.  and that's what I want.  I want to put the mas back in Christmas.  Not mas presents, not mas decorations, not mas money, not mas stress, not mas food.  Mas, the real mas, the mas that counts, the mas that lasts, the mas that makes a difference, because that's what Christmas is supposed to be, isn't it?  It all started with a baby who grew up and did mas.  Mas than anyone expected, mas than was thought possible, mas than the world was used to seeing, mas than his fellow man, just mas, he did mas.  

     Christmas is over.  I'm inclined to say "thank God".  Ha ha.  But not so much ha ha.  I saw an interesting and disturbing juxtaposition on Facebook today.  Amid all the "Merry Christmases" and happy holiday photos were some rather angry posts.  Things like "I've got a long fuse, but when I'm done, I'm done" kind of things.  I wondered how can you post so much angry at Christmas; what the hell is wrong with these people.  And then I realized, Christmas.  Christmas is what's wrong with people.  We stress ourselves out to the point of angry and upset.  Will Dad like his new tie?  Is Cousin Tilly going to complain about my new cranberry sauce recipe?  Why can't I get my tree straight?  Did I send a card to Jim from the high school reunion?  Should I give the mailman money or a lottery ticket?  On and on the list of worries grows.

     It grows and grows and grows and by the time Christmas morning comes, we're exhausted, bitter, angry, insecure, sick, tired, achy, miserable, short tempered, frazzled, broken out, wrecks.  Why? Look, I'm no kinda religious, not by a long shot.  I know that Christmas is supposed to be about the baby Jesus, for me, it's less esoteric than all of that.  It's supposed to be about all those cliches in all those movies.  And who'da thunk that Hollywood could actually do us some good?  But they do, every Christmas here comes some new movie trying to remind us what Christmas Spirit is about.  And we're all touched, maybe we even tear up a bit.  We leave the theater warm and cozy, filled up with goodwill towards men and what do we do?  We head to the mall and all of it gets flushed right down the toilet as we start cursing over finding a parking spot, the prices of the latest electronics, the crowds, the heat, the commercialism.  We actually can learn a lot from the movies, if we'd just keep it in our hearts.  So, here's my Hollywood Christmas, it might just be the best thing Hollywood has ever done for us.

The Bishop's Wife:
Tonight I want to tell you the story of an empty stocking. Once upon a midnight clear, there was a child's cry. A blazing star hung over a stable and wise men came with birthday gifts. We haven't forgotten that night down the centuries; we celebrate it with stars on Christmas trees, the sound of bells and with gifts. But especially with gifts. You give me a book; I give you a tie. Aunt Martha has always wanted an orange squeezer and Uncle Henry could do with a new pipe. We forget nobody, adult or child. All the stockings are filled... all that is, except one. And we have even forgotten to hang it up. The stocking for the child born in a manger. It's his birthday we are celebrating. Don't ever let us forget that. Let us ask ourselves what he would wish for most... and then let each put in his share. Loving kindness, warm hearts and the stretched out hand of tolerance. All the shining gifts that make peace on earth.

Scrooged:
It's Christmas Eve! It's... it's the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we... we... we smile a little easier, we... w-w-we... we... we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year, we are the people that we always hoped we would be!

Miracle on 34th Street:

Yeah, there's a lot of bad 'isms' floatin' around this world, but one of the worst is commercialism. Make a buck, make a buck. Even in Brooklyn it's the same - don't care what Christmas stands for, just make a buck, make a buck.

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (the real one!):
He puzzled and puzzed till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. Maybe Christmas, he thought... doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps... means a little bit more.

It's A Wonderful Life:
Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends.

And Finally,

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation:

I don't know what to say, except it's Christmas and we're all in misery.

     We don't have to be, you know.  We don't have to be in misery.  We don't have to fall prey to the "isms".   We can decide to put the mas back in Christmas.  Maybe you hang a stocking for the baby Jesus and each family member puts in a promise for the year, a pledge of kindness and maybe you leave the stocking up all year to remind you of the promises you made to each other, to mankind.  Each Christmas you could look at the promises from the previous year and think about how you did, and what you could do this coming year.  Maybe instead of worrying about the number of gifts under the tree, you start a tradition in your family to encourage spending time with each other, drive the neighborhood and look at lights or go to a shelter and hand out food or clean out your closets and make donations to the poor.  Maybe you change the tradition each year just to make it about giving.  Look, I don't pretend to have the answers, I do have the questions, the answers are up to you.  I'm tired, you're tired.  We're all tired.  But we chose to be tired.  We chose to drive ourselves crazy.  We didn't choose to say "enough, I'm not playing this game anymore."  
     
     Well, I'm saying it.  Enough is enough already.  I'm putting the Mas back in Christmas!  Next year will be calmer, quieter, more peaceful.  Next year, this year, I'm going to keep Christmas in my heart and out of my wallet!  I'm going to enjoy the moments and not count the money!