A thought about Christmas

John Lewis’ Christmas advert is fantastic, isn’t it? If you haven’t seen it, go onto YouTube and watch it. It’s a lovely video about a boy and his penguin who do everything together but the penguin wants his own penguin mate. On Christmas morning, the boy takes the penguin downstairs and there’s another penguin under the tree. They all live happily ever after. I love the advert; it’s beautiful, it has some deeper meaning and there are penguins in it!

Now let’s talk about the Sainsbury’s advert. If you haven’t seen that one either, forget the penguin advert. Grab your tissues and go and watch the Sainsbury’s advert. It beautifully tells the WWI story of the troops in No Mans Land on Christmas Day. It’s such a wonderful advert and so well done. I don’t know how factually correct the ending is, but I thought it was a lovely thought anyway. When the fun is over and the soldiers return to their trenches, two of the soldiers had swapped chocolate and what looks to be bread. For all the things we want and ask for in these modern and commercial times, these (fictional) soldiers who were away from home and away from families, were grateful and happy to be receiving bread and chocolate from a friend.

I wonder if anybody feels that same feeling when we receive our gifts on Christmas Day. Of course, we are all probably grateful and happy for the things we receive but it’s not necessary, is it? 

I will be working pretty much every day over the festive period, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. I would much rather be free to visit my family on Christmas and share mince pies with my Dad. Or spend the day with my Niece and Nephews and play with their toys with them. Or go out for a romantic walk with Joel and Pepsi through the snowy woods, all bundled up in scarves and hats. It won’t be too bad, I’ll be spending my Christmas with the regular customers from the pub and no doubt they’ll make it special.

But time is what I want for Christmas. Time. Joel and I are working until we drop, trying to put money aside for a mortgage and a wedding. However, for just a few special days, just for Christmas, I wish the world would stop and we would have time to see each other and spend some loving, quality time together. 

So here’s a Christmas message from me. If you’ve already finished your Christmas shopping like I have, high-five! If not, what are you waiting for? But remember this:

Rather than spending hours and days wandering the shops looking for presents, why don’t you spend time with the important people instead? Go out together, see things together, make memories together! Because a few years down the line when the remote control car or the coffee maker is broken, you’ll still have the photos or memories of the snowy walk you went on or the dinner you made and ate together. 

Time is precious. People are precious. It’s time we let the special people know that they are precious.

Also, if you haven't heard it already, I recommend you listen to a song called Belleau Wood by Garth Brooks. It tells the story of the WWI soldiers and it's just beautiful!

Garth Brooks - Belleau Wood