Christine Smith: A Christmas Wish

It was winter. The migrant couple had been travelling for miles on foot in the cold. It had been a long journey. They were looking for a place to stay. The wife was pregnant and was due to give birth any day. They stopped at numerous hotels but were told that there was no room for them.

Christine Smith

Although this could be a story taken from current-day headlines, it is the Christmas story. It is notable to me how the reactions to this story are different depending on whether it is the story of Mary, Joseph and Jesus as opposed to the story of a family who has arrived in our state from another country.

The Christmas story is famously told by Linus in the Christmas special, A Charlie Brown Christmas. Linus answers Charlie Brown’s question of what Christmas is all about with the following: “Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about … And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’”

And after hearing the story, Charlie Brown ventures off to celebrate Christmas in his own way. And when he stumbles, his classmates surround him to lift him up, in spite of their differences.

Peace on earth and good will towards all. This is a simple yet profound message, timeless and applicable to both the Christmas story and the news stories about the migrants seeking shelter in our state.

It is that message that evokes feelings of good will and charity during the holiday season. For those who are religious, Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, who brings us God’s message of peace, joy, love and hope. For those who celebrate a secular Christmas, it is the season of giving. Our Jewish friends celebrate Hanukkah, whose festival of lights represents the triumph of light over darkness. Our homes, businesses and public spaces are decorated with twinkling lights, shining bright into the shortest and darkest days of the year.

Donations are collected for those less fortunate by Toys for Tots, the Salvation Army, and countless other organizations. Many give freely to these efforts, often renewing my faith in humanity. We do not ask whether the children receiving the toys are worthy or not, nor where the families on the receiving end of the charity are from. All we know is they are human beings in need of our help.

It is wishful thinking, I suppose, to ask for these feelings and intentions to continue past the holiday season. However, it is my Christmas wish that we try to continue the spirit of the season throughout the year, for it is hard to see how we get past all the hate and violence in the world without changing how we see and treat others, especially those who we perceive to be different from us.

As we head in to a New Year full of new challenges, elections and decisions that will impact the future of our town and our country, I will end this year by wishing peace and good will to all of my readers.

Christine Smith is a mother of three, an attorney and longtime Canton resident. The views expressed in her column are solely her own.

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Posted by Christine Smith on Dec 22 2023. Filed under Featured Content, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.