What does Christmas mean to you?

If it means giving gifts, that’s okay. Giving to others is symbolic of the ultimate gift. We all received something that we should remember, hold dear and cherish for a lifetime. Just like a blender from Aunt Louise, you don’t have to use it. You can put the gift in the corner cabinet and never think about it again. The decision to use it has to be yours. No one else can do it for you. Aren’t a lot of gifts like that? A blender, a big screen TV, a new coat, even a new car, will one day become old and discarded. Yet the gift that keeps on giving, the gift of eternal life, never gets old. All you have to do is unwrap the package and hold it in your heart. As a bonus, you can love those around you.

If Christmas means going to parties and celebrating with friends, that, too, is okay. After all, the ultimate gift wasn’t just for you. It’s a gift that you can share with your friends, co-workers and even your enemies. Although sharing with your enemies is hard. But isn’t that a great thought. You can share the ultimate gift with anyone. At no cost to you. Except maybe your reluctance to not be intrusive or questioned or pushy. You can go to the office Christmas party because you know everybody, or at least enough people to not be uncomfortable. So you hang out with your little circle. That’s fine. But do the people in your circle know? Do they know you? Do they know if you have received the ultimate gift? Do they see it by your actions? Words? Outreach? Can that be your purpose in the New Year, to spread the free gift?

If Christmas means drinking eggnog, that’s okay, too. Eggnog is made of wholesome ingredients including milk, cream, sugar and eggs. If this year your goal is to be more wholesome, to be more pure, to treat your body better, that would be a good thing, right? Now, if you add additional ingredients to eggnog to liven up your life, may I suggest that there is something far more fun, wholesome and guaranteed to give you an eternal life than the extra ingredient you might add. I am not saying that one should not drink alcoholic beverages. I’m just saying that if alcohol gives you an escape from the pressures of this hectic world, there is something far better.

If Christmas means kissing under the mistletoe, that’s a good thing. I would hope that you have someone who loves you as much as my wife loves me. We don’t need mistletoe to kiss, but it does add a spark to the holiday times. Not many people can say that their spouse truly saved their life this year, except maybe metaphorically. In my case, she really did. So that’s a gift that keeps on giving.

I wish for you a Merry Christmas and that the coming year is filled with hope, blessings and love.

Kelly Burke, master attorney, former district attorney and magistrate judge, is engaged in private practice. He writes about the law, rock’n’roll and politics. These articles are not designed to give legal advice, but are designed to inform the public about how the law affects their daily lives. Contact Kelly at kelly@burkelasseterllc.com to comment on this article or suggest articles that you’d like to see and visit his website www.kellyrburke.com to view prior columns.

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