A Christmas Message

By John Grimaldi


It’s supposed to be the season of joy and hope. But, yet again, the fates have decided we need a lesson, a very stark lesson, in acceptance, acceptance of yet another year of pandemic solitude. It’s a challenge: do we give in and give up a chance to be happy again? Or do we rise up and say I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore?

This is not to say that you or I should take our chances by resisting and celebrating as we did in the days of yore. But there are common sense ways of safe, sound and jubilant celebration that avoid the kind of revelry that increases the odds of coming down with the coronavirus and its variants. It’s Christmas! Stand firm. Take care, of course, but rejoice and enjoy.

Christmas, in the era of COVID, is different at best. But that doesn’t mean the day can be dismissed. It’s the time of the year when we profess what we are – the children of God. And, come hell or high water, God is with us. It doesn’t matter what your religious beliefs are. He has protected us in the past and he will protect us in the present and the future.

So, gather as you will, taking necessary safeguards and remembering that the season – a season that stretches from Hanukah to Kwanzaa -- brings with it the promise of hope.

More Resources

Survival Kit for the Holidays: Grace, Gratitude and Random Acts Of Kindness
If you*re like me, the holidays always have a way of sneaking in. And - like an unexpected visitor who shows up the week I haven't cleaned my home - I'm caught in a frenzy, desperate to scrape up the tumbleweeds of cat fur and make the place look presentable.
Quick and Easy Holiday Decorating
You're tired. You've worked hard all week.
Valentines Day Flowers
Flowers & Valentine's Day go hand in hand. Your Valentine will be so thrilled to receive a beautiful flower arrangement! Of course, Roses are known for their association with love.
Glorious Holiday Decorating (Without Breaking the Bank or Losing Your Sanity)
Decorating for the holidays can be both expensive and emotionally draining. But you can decorate your home beautifully--on a budget--by following just a few simple suggestions.
Stress-Free Holiday Entertaining
The holiday season is upon us! It is a time when family and friends gather together. Some people love to entertain and enjoy bringing people together.
A Harvest Halloween
To take advantage of the last days of autumn, we planned an outdoor Halloween party at our family farm. This gave us an opportunity to bring our friends together in an informal setting before the hectic holiday season.
A Diamond Christmas 2004!
When Archduke Maximillian of Austria bestowed a diamond ring on Mary of Burgundy in 1477, giving a diamond as a symbol of love and commitment was birthed. Prior to this only royalty wore diamonds, believing they symbolized strength and courage.
Traditional Anniversary Gifts Year by Year, the Twentieth - One Hundred Years
Twentieth through the twenty-fourth anniversaries traditional gift is china. Vintage china tea cups, bone china ornaments or a replacement piece for your own china are presents to consider along with a table for two at a Chinese restaurant or a trip to China.
New Years Resolutions
Ah, the start of another year! In a groggy haze on New Years Eve, I promised someone (or was it myself?) that I would be good this year. I said I would draw up my New Year's Resolutions - particularly after the roller-coaster year I had last year.
Making Mother's Day Special
How many times have you heard a friend say about someone who's no longer here, "I never got to tell her (or him) how much I really cared."We've all felt this way at some stage about someone in our lives.
SALOME and HERODIAS, A Curious Mothers Day Story, Part 1 of 2 Parts
First, a disclaimer:This article requires information about John the Baptist, whose life and works and words are holy, divinely inspired, to Christians. The sources I've accessed are religious, historical, literary, exegetic, and anecdotal.
EASTER: The Bunny and The Egg
Ever wonder why there's an "Easter Bunny"? Everwonder why he brings eggs? And dyed ones at that!The Rabbit and the Hare, because of their frequentmultiple births, are long time symbols of fertility.According to pre-Christian fertility lore, long before Jesus Christ was born, the Easter Bunny, akathe Easter Hare, represented the new life duringthe Spring season.
Fitness Tips On How To Avoid Gaining Weight During The Holiday Season
This holiday season don't be trendy - avoid the Seasonal Seven (the average weight most Americans gain between Thanksgiving and New Year's). That's one trend you don't want to participate in!I know what you are thinking - the holidays are a time for fun and indulgence.
Valentines Day Rapport
How to develop and heighten rapport on Valentines Day beyond your wildest dreams!With Valentines day on the doorstep for another year here is way of enhancing those romantic occasions. In thinking about something pertinent to Valentines, I thought I would write about a topic that fascinates me; developing rapport.
Holiday Candy Canes Are Festive and Fun
Candy canes are everyone's favorite holiday treat. Just think about how versatile they are.
The Holiday Shopping Experience - Rewarding or Traumatic?
Picture this scenario! It's December 24th, the day of Christmas Eve. On this day you should be relaxing, enjoying time with family and thinking of all the precious memories you have created throughout the year.
5 Tips to Reduce Holiday Depression
As the holidays approach each year, more and more people suffer from Holiday Depression.Some experts blame it on factors relating to nutrition.
Halloween & Hounds
Halloween is "fright night" for humans not dogs. Screaming, running, spooky children in masks make many dogs uncomfortable, nervous and frightened.
Successful Holiday Gift Giving Starts with a Plan
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas and the clock is ticking down as we grow closer to the holiday festivities. By now, many have either started thinking about what they are going to purchase for those on their gift list - others are in full holiday shopping mode.
Nine Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Head To The Office Party
One thing you can count on during the holiday season is the obligatory office party. No matter what the size of the organization, there is always an effort to bring coworkers together for one more moment of merriment.

More Holidays Information:

Related Articles

How Santa Makes Out His Christmas List
How Does Santa Make Out His List?I'll let you in on a secret: I know Santa Claus. And I received a letter from him with his Christmas list.
Valentines Day
Ever wondered how February 14 became, the day on which we celebrate and explore love in all its many ideals, Valentines Day.There are many differing opinions on how Valentines Day started.
Spice Up Your Life with an Adventure Holiday!
Are you bored with the routine of city life? Do you yearn for a getaway from the hustle and bustle and put some excitement into your life? Do you hope to visit the places that have been aired over National Geographic Explorer and experience it for yourself? If your answer is yes to these questions, then adventure travel is just the thing for you!Defining an Adventure HolidayOk, so you've decided that you want an adventure holiday. This leads you to the next question - what type of adventure holiday do you want? There is just so much variety and different perceptions of the word "Adventure" that people have come up with all sorts of activities to define this word.
Youre How Old?!?
"Well, Happy Birthday! How old are you anyway?""Oh, I'm just 29 ? again."It's a harmless game, denying our age, right? We play sensitive about our age as we get older, as we get further away from birth and closer to death.
Marching Towards Mothers Day
"Mother: the most beautiful word on the lips of mankind." -Kahil GibranThis coming Sunday is our "big day," moms.
Choosing A Great Gift For A Polar Bear Lover
Do you know someone who is absolutely crazy about polar bears? Choosing a polar bear gift for a friend or loved one can be a lot of fun because there are so many choices out there, and luckily the price range is wide enough so that anyone can choose a great polar bear gift.Of course, sometimes having a lot of choices can be a problem, too.
Dear Santa: Christmas Sucks!
Christmas time is finally here, and most people during this holiday are happier than a fat kid eating a Krispy Kreme donut. Christmas brings so many great things to the table; the caroling, the NO SCHOOL, the snowmen and hour long snowball fights that ends with bloody noses, the eggnog and drunken relatives, the presents, holiday parties, and the drinking hot coco next to a roaring fire while cuddling up with your loved one.
The Origins Of Mothers Day
Today Mother's Day or Mothering Sunday is celebrated all over the world. For florists and card shops the event is one of the highlights of the year, but the roots of Mother's Day are not commercial.
7 Tips For Defusing Holiday Stress
KNOW THYSELFThe first key to creating a peaceful holiday season is identifying those holiday traditions that you ENJOY and those that you don't. When you spend your precious time and energy on activities that you don't find rewarding, you are destined to become FRUSTRATED and cranky.
5 Tips to Reduce Holiday Depression
While war and poor economic conditions begin to affect people all over the world, more and more people suffer with depression. The more we focus on news events and the business climate, the more we are depressed.
Ready to Skip This Holiday? Why No Just Make It Your Own?
Do you feel panicked, or exicted? Are you experiencing joy or depression? Do you have childlike visions of toys and celebration with the people you love? Or pressure, loneliness, alienation and annoying relatives?Sometimes we really can't help but ask "What is celebration? Do we really need it?"I can tell you there were times after my divorce and my daughter's death that I asked myself those questions. My kids had moved out.
Spend More Time With Your Family This Holiday Season: Host A Caroling Party
Too often we forgo entertaining because of the mere thought of all of the preparation that is involved. And more is not better.
Whatever Happened to Christmas?
Remember when no one started Christmas shopping until after Thanksgiving?Wisconsin author LeAnn R. Ralph remembers it very well.
10 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a day for remembering those who have laid their lives in the nation's service. Memorial Day has also become a popular time for Family Reunions and Get Togethers as it is preceded by a weekend.
Thriving Through the Holidays
The holidays are upon us; a time of celebration and joy. I love the last days of November through the beginning of the New Year.
15 Ways to Create Some Extra Holiday Money
Originally this was going to be a list for my two teenagers but some of these ideas are better suited to adults with a valid driver's license and a bit of know-how. Some of these take a bit of planning and organizing, but most of them could be done on a fairly spur of the moment case by case basis.
Fun Halloween Ideas
Looking for interesting Halloween ideas? Perhaps you are looking for something new to do this year? Here are several Halloween ideas to get you started:Here's a neat tip to make your Halloween punch creepy while keeping it cold: Fill a rubber food service glove with water, and freeze it. Remove the glove, rinse the ice hand, and use it to cool your punch!Cotton candy makes great spider webs! Find candy spiders, and tangle them into the cotton candy.
Mothers Day, Do You Know What Youre Giving The Woman Who Gave You Life?
Mother's Day, Do you know what you're giving the woman who gave you life?by DeAnna SpencerI decided to deviate from my normal discussion of marketing andadvertising to discuss a major gift giving holiday.Mother's day is coming soon.
A Priceless Birthday Gift
Kelly was a very wealthy Hollywood actress, who was used to a posh lifestyle. She lived in a multimillion dollar home in Beverly Hills.
EASTER: The Bunny and The Egg
Ever wonder why there's an "Easter Bunny"? Everwonder why he brings eggs? And dyed ones at that!The Rabbit and the Hare, because of their frequentmultiple births, are long time symbols of fertility.According to pre-Christian fertility lore, long before Jesus Christ was born, the Easter Bunny, akathe Easter Hare, represented the new life duringthe Spring season.