Let It Be Christmas

Christmas is a magical time of the year when our thoughts should turn to the real meaning of the season—to family, friends, and the blessings we have received all year. Everyone gets excited about the season with decorations, family traditions, and fellowship with all. Unfortunately, it seems this year may not be as we imagined. With the current COVID-19 situation and cases on the rise in locations around the country, some fear the virus will derail and dampen holiday celebrations due to the stay-at-home orders and prohibiting gatherings. However, I challenge you to resist having your Christmas enthusiasm sidetracked. We may not be able to be with friends and loved ones or share the parties and celebrations we normally would be enjoying, but we can celebrate Christmas anywhere we are. There are great stories of our forefathers celebrating Christmas under the most dire of circumstances as early as the 1700s in the Old West,¹ George Washington and the Continental Army quietly celebrating Christmas while they crossed the Delaware River to help secure our freedom in 1776, US and German soldiers celebrating Christmas on the fields of war with an unofficial truce in 1914,² and Apollo 8 astronauts, Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders, celebrated Christmas while orbiting the moon in 1968.

As we look to find our way to celebrate this most unusual Christmas, I suggest we look to the words of a special Christmas song written and performed by Alan Jackson: “Let It Be Christmas.”³ He sings, “Let it be Christmas everywhere, in the hearts of all people both near and afar.” He continues, “Feel the love of the season wherever you are, on the small country roads lined with green mistletoe” or the “big city street where a thousand lights glow.” This is truly our hope that everyone, no matter where they might be, will experience the special feelings of Christmas.

Jackson continues by singing words that should be particularly meaningful to us in this year, which has been filled with turmoil and uncertainty. “Let every heart sing, let every bell ring the story of hope and joy and peace” … “Let anger and fear and hate disappear; let there be love that lasts through the year…” These are truly thoughts we should have for our fellow men and women and our country, especially during this Christmas season.

This Christmas, my family and I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. We hope that your Christmas will be a special time of the year no matter the circumstances. We do not find the best things by adding more and more; we find the best by removing the things that keep us from finding it. W.T. Ellis has said, “It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.” I challenge you to not let situations that we cannot control spoil your Christmas celebration. Let us all “Let It Be Christmas.”

Terry Treadwell, MD, FACS
woundseditor@hmpglobal.com