Today I listened to the words of a touching Christmas song that I love. It begins, “I’m dreaming tonight, of a place I love even more than I usually do. And although I know, it’s a long road back, I promise you . . . I’ll be home for Christmas, you can count on me. Please have snow and mistletoe, and presents under the tree,” and goes on to say . . . “I’ll be home for Christmas. If only in my dreams.”
The song I was playing in my shop is the Josh Groban version. Even though I’ve heard it many times, it still sends chills through my body as I hear of soldiers sending messages from abroad to their loved ones. Like so many people around the world, those very words will only ever be a dream.
Sharing and caring
We never really get to stop and think about all the people around the world who, for whatever reason, have no way of ever sharing Christmas with the ones they love. They could be exiled, frail, aged, hospitalised, recruited or thousands of other reasons. Possibly the worst reason of all being, that the very ones they love are no longer with them to share Christmas. We say it is a time for sharing and caring, but we all know that year end can be a devastatingly sad time for many.
Life is more difficult, challenging and stressful than I have ever experienced in my 54 years. This results in hardship and has puts extreme stress on relationships and families around the world. Many, far worse than we can sometimes imagine. Due to the simple wave of a hand or touch of a button, we are almost instantly affected by a tsunami in Japan, earthquakes and all those awful things that happen daily to so many.
Desensitised
But how often do we let it touch our hearts as it passes from our eyes into our brain. We see, we absorb and are we so desensitised that we just forget? Or do we sit down and sob from the bottom of our soul, as we relate to the very suffering that we are so relieved is not ours?
Let’s not forget that awful story of the Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens – where money is the very source of unhappiness and sorrow. For what we have that makes us think we are affluent and gives us comfort, can be taken away in a second.
This year I wish for the people I have come to know through my business – peace. For without peace in our hearts we surely cannot know peace on earth. For those of you I have never met, I wish you a Christmas of caring and compassion. Let there be kindness towards others in your heart, for we all have that ability . . . we sometimes just lose it and have to find it again.
Caring Christmas
For the angels who work with me in my business, I thank you. I am truly blessed. Although one never should, I must thank my husband . . .for when I met him on the beach in Mauritius 23 years ago, how could I ever know that someone could love me so much.
I wish you a caring Christmas. For those who do not celebrate Christmas, I wish you a special time of peace and sharing. And for the Jewish readers, may you sing “Hannukah Hannukah light the Menorah” as you share that special week with your families.
Yours sincerely, Gillian Kaatze.
Gillian’s exclusive festive store is at Crowthorne Corner, Garlicke Drive, Ballito. Look out for the new store at the Lifestyle Centre, Ballito.