I’ll be 57 on my next birthday. I’m a salty street cop. I’ve been accused of having “resting dick-face”. I don’t have grand kids to celebrated the wonder of Christmas. Last week, during briefing, my work mates referred to me as ‘Grinch’ because I didn’t express a desire to do a white elephant gift exchange. Yet I think I’m a sweet sentimental guy who enjoys Christmas.

I did all my Christmas shopping on my own and wrapped each present without any assistance. I tried to get thoughtful gifts. I put up outside Christmas decorations (in a downpour). I wear my “Who’s Your Santa” hat. I listen to Christmas music on the radio. I say “Merry Christmas” not “Happy Holidays”. I went with grown kids to the holiday lights on display in the city.

But none of those items are what I was raised to believe Christmas was about.

I was born into a fundamentalist Christian home. My family never had a Christmas tree or holiday decorations. My mom thought it was “too pagan”. There was never any talk about Santa. Santa usurped the celebration of the Christ-child. We read the birth of Christ passages from the KJV bible every Christmas Eve.

We shared gifts in the tradition of the Magi. Christmas was about the birth of Christ. Christmas was about the spirit of giving. We caroled (to bring cheer to shut-ins). We ate well and shared gifts of food. Every good child’s wish list always included the phrase ‘fruits and nuts and candy’.

I was taught that God gave his Son to the world. The Magi brought gifts to the arrival of the god-child. Mary gave the immaculate born son. And we must give gifts to commemorate the birth of Jesus the Messiah.

This event, Christmas, is the defining holiday for the Christian religion. In my thinking, religion is about belief, so Christmas is about belief.

My beliefs as an adult are different from the beliefs I inherited as a child. Now my beliefs are not based in religion. But I still believe in Christmas.

Here’s what I want Christmas to mean to me:

Family

Friends

Traditions

Love

Kindness

Eggnog

Good food

Holiday music

Scratching my head trying to find a ‘good’ gift

Generous strangers

Unfortunately here’s actually what Christmas usually means to me now:

Double-time

Domestic violence

Drunks

Neglected children

Drunk drivers

Suicidal people

More drunks

Family beefs

Sexual abuse reports

Mental health welfare checks

OK…. maybe I am a grumpy, cynical old fart…. But I sure don’t see myself that way… And I like Christmas anyway…

Of course, your mileage may vary.

Dr Jay