Why we need national holidays-Oh, let me just say it-Why we need Christmas!

[Evette Harris]

Over this last week, I’ve noticed how many people seemed truly happy and excited about Christmas. People actually smiled and perked-up when told, “Merry Christmas,” or the elusive, “Happy Holidays.”

Men were holding doors for ladies and ladies were overheard talking about what they were going to cook for Christmas dinner. Children were all the more excited about Santa Claus and singing Jingle Bells in the school hallways.

I even let one guy bogart his way in front of me to the gas pump. I was non-plussed about it and was glad to give him the gift of pushing his way to the front of the line. Not a problem.

Just like we often need ‘Me time,’ or ‘Girls night out,’ as individuals, mothers, employees, etc., our nation needs a time-out, too. Nations are made up of many types of people and like people, nations have a personality and a culture that is constantly going, gets overworked, and downright tired.

Whether it’s Christmas or another national holiday, our nation needs these days as sort of a rest-stop on life’s road, to give pause for reflecting, prayer, and meditating about our nation’s purpose. We need to use this time corporately, as a country, to appreciate the people and material wealth with which we are blessed.

We need national holidays as a respite from all the evil and mayhem that take place on a daily basis. National holidays allow us to rest and regroup and gain perspective about our lives and how we fit into the larger scheme of life.

We need these days to remind us of others who may be less fortunate; others who are grieving, and others who are no longer here to celebrate and enjoy these time with us. We need Christmas and national holidays to be our national Sabbaths-days that we can respect and honor as Holy-days.

We need Christmas and national holidays to remind us to say, “THANKS.” Thanks for our families; thanks for our friends and our national provisions. Thanks for our country, our military, and our Constitution.

We live in tumultuous times and we often are so busy in our daily lives. We may attend our respective religious services, but when we, corporately, as a nation, are taking the time share similar beautiful thoughts with our families and friends on any given national holiday, what better way to honor the Ultimate Creator of our lives and our nation?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May God continue to bless these United States of America!