Who Works on Christmas?
Some people will work on Christmas. The world doesn't stop, although much of it does. But there's always the need for some of us to keep things going, even on Christmas Day.
Here's to you all working on Christmas Day. Merry Christmas to you. My thoughts go out to you.
While I've never had to work on Christmas, I've worked on many other holidays, including Thanksgiving. Sometimes I'd feel a bit lonely, being away from my family - especially in the days before cellphones when you really were out of touch. Sometimes I would feel a bit of resentment over the fact that you have to work. Sometimes I'd even feel kind of good, even "righteous" that while the world rested, I was plugging away, keeping things going for everyone else. So there were special extra feelings that would creep in, good and bad, when I worked on holidays.
If you're not working this Christmas, say a quick prayer for those who are.
If you are working, don't lose Christmas Day just because you've got to work. It's here. Christ is born. Remember how the world - even the sometime weary world of work - rejoices at His birth. Don't shut him out just as he's about to come into your heart. You're working for a reason. It's somehow part of God's plan, just as the birth of His Son was a part - the central part - of His plan.
Christ's birth changed everything. The weariness of work that fell on our shoulders as a result of the sins of our first parents, Adam and Eve, was changed. Even as we still may be weary from work, that same work can be sanctified now, offered up to Our Father in Heaven, even become a kind of prayer, instead of a punishment for that Original Sin. It's time to realize this. It's time to live it!
So maybe you who work on Christmas will understand this; maybe you already do. But all of us can pray for the grace to understand this.
Our work can be a prayer. Our work is not a punishment.
With the image of the Baby Jesus lying helplessly in the manger at His birth firmly fixed in or minds and hearts, let's pray for the grace to make our work a prayer this coming year. Let's keep Jesus firmly in our hearts during Christmas and every day after Christmas.
Here's to you all working on Christmas Day. Merry Christmas to you. My thoughts go out to you.
While I've never had to work on Christmas, I've worked on many other holidays, including Thanksgiving. Sometimes I'd feel a bit lonely, being away from my family - especially in the days before cellphones when you really were out of touch. Sometimes I would feel a bit of resentment over the fact that you have to work. Sometimes I'd even feel kind of good, even "righteous" that while the world rested, I was plugging away, keeping things going for everyone else. So there were special extra feelings that would creep in, good and bad, when I worked on holidays.
If you're not working this Christmas, say a quick prayer for those who are.
If you are working, don't lose Christmas Day just because you've got to work. It's here. Christ is born. Remember how the world - even the sometime weary world of work - rejoices at His birth. Don't shut him out just as he's about to come into your heart. You're working for a reason. It's somehow part of God's plan, just as the birth of His Son was a part - the central part - of His plan.
Christ's birth changed everything. The weariness of work that fell on our shoulders as a result of the sins of our first parents, Adam and Eve, was changed. Even as we still may be weary from work, that same work can be sanctified now, offered up to Our Father in Heaven, even become a kind of prayer, instead of a punishment for that Original Sin. It's time to realize this. It's time to live it!
So maybe you who work on Christmas will understand this; maybe you already do. But all of us can pray for the grace to understand this.
Our work can be a prayer. Our work is not a punishment.
With the image of the Baby Jesus lying helplessly in the manger at His birth firmly fixed in or minds and hearts, let's pray for the grace to make our work a prayer this coming year. Let's keep Jesus firmly in our hearts during Christmas and every day after Christmas.
Merry Christmas to all of you!
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