Random Thought 154 - Christmas

I have a friend, a street-smart one, who becomes the head of their family at his young age.  They lost their parents in a car accident and since then, he becomes the father, mother, and a brother to his younger sister. At the same time, he has a daughter to attend to but the child is under the care of the mother.  The mother of her child has a new family of her own.

This Christmas, at his young age, he is very concerned about the welfare of his sister and her daughter.  He is trying his best to give them a Christmas present and he felt pressured about the situation when money is scarce and hard to come by.  He has no permanent work and money normally comes from an errand or a short-job stint which he patiently endure.

Though he tried to be strong and resilient about the situation, just like the previous Christmases that came before, I could see in his eyes and through his words how he felt bad about the situation.  He felt frustrated but he always put up a brave face.  Actually, if you don't know him, you will not even know the kind of burden and suffering he is trying to cover up with this smiling face.  But deep inside, his every day struggles are constant.

Christmas is for the kids.  He tells me this line over and over again.  He can deprive his own wants of some Christmas presents for the sake of his sister and daughter.  He is trying his best to look for that job and bring home some money and perhaps be able to buy some presents to his loved ones this holiday season.  

I know that Christmas is a tradition but nowadays, it is more of a commercialism that brings pressure to people.  The minds of the people have been programmed already that every kid should be entitled a Christmas present.  The pressure lies upon the shoulder of the adults who are trying their best for the sake of the kids and for the kids not to be left behind by their peers.  I may not be in the right position to raise some concern about how Christmas should be celebrated.  But the mere fact that our observation of this season focuses on material things, what good does it bring?  Of course, it must be good for the business but not for the soul.