A fine time of the year is upon us and all the world - that is the part that is Christian - is wrapped in red and green bows and twinkling lights. The silver and gold of the ornaments shine like a diamond in a hay stack, and the youngsters are all giggling and writing letters to Santa. A happy world, indeed! Except for some who are overcome with agony.
I am shocked and dismayed at the atrocity of a gunman shooting people just to be killing fellow humans. What went wrong and how many folks or generations will the single actof the killer affect? Grandchildren may not ever know their grandfathers or grandmothers, some won’t be born, some husbands or wives will never feel complete again, and for what? That is an unanswerable question, the “for what?”
We have seen so much evil in this old world and yet it just keeps on coming. I remember how it affected me when I saw the movie Uncle Tom’s Cabin, slave children being torn away from their families, the mothers crying and reaching for them. I really wanted to cry, but my buddy, Grant, was sitting with me. I rememberthe ordeal of going to the cemetery on Memorial Day and hearing the weeping of folks as they decorated the graves of their kin who gave their lives so some fool would have the freedom to take up a gun and kill innocent folks in 2012 and then kill himself.
I have a friend who lost a child to cancer in the month of December and it has always crushed Christmas. The siblings can’t celebrate even though they try, the cloud of grief takes the light away from the whole family. All the joy and adoration of the birth of Jesus is never the same after a dire loss. I don’t mean they can’t worship. They do, but in a very subdued manner.
I miss my sainted mother and my Pappy all year long; and Christmas makes the memories linger, and so I grieve a little. My close relative talks about her parentsas she prepares some of the things her mother taught her to cook. We know of loss but we expect some, it is part of this life. Age and infirmities are natural and we are all bound to die, but killing, whether by gun, car wrecks or disease, before any life can be complete, is horrendous, makes me sick to my stomach.
I sure enough am a blessed man, have plenty of groceries and a bunch of it is candy, several cakes and brownies, and parties to attend. I like the Christmas get-togethers, all the females try to outdo the others with fancy eats. I compliment them all, mostly when my close relative is out of ear shot! I fancy the laughter and fun when gifts are opened to find ridiculous items. The kinship of us cattlemen and our families is a priceless commodity that is a gift tous country folks. We don’t make much money, but our banker is friendly and enjoys the fun right along with us.
Our Grands have all gotten the hidden ponies, the new saddles and are up to hats and boots. Some want buckles that glisten with gold and some, the little females, want fancy, go-to-town and put-yourlittle-foot boots! I figured a good pair of fancy boots wouldn’t cost as much as a good hat but, once again, I was wrong. Can you believe about four big ones to get a pair of boots? Well, the close relative will have to take care of that one, too painful for me!
I bought a couple of good felt hats, had them blocked and they will make the boys look good! They really aren’t old enough to appreciate a good hat but, heck, maybe this will be the year theylearn. My close relative said something about getting unruly if she got anything to use in the kitchen, so I guess she wants some new rubber boots or a new shovel for her yard work. My offspring are getting whatever their mother buys for them, and she puts my name on the tag along with hers. I just ignore the bank statement in January!
It is my opinion, and everyone has one, remember to console the grieving, help the needy, and love your neighbor during this time, even a little more than usual. Smile more and laugh when you get a chance because it is the season! Pray for the folks you can’t help and take care of your own!
Bill is the pen name used by a local writer and longtime resident of the Gravette area.
Opinion, Pages 6 on 12/19/2012