Bright, Shining Moments…

As I waded through knee-deep wrapping paper, there was a bright, shining moment this Christmas in the midst of the flury of gift opening…My Grandmother is the head of the environmental committee at her church and she has a huge heart for the poor.  So what presents did she give?  She gave everyone energy saving light bulbs, in a reusable grocery bag.  In the card we found that she had donated a goat to a poor family in Africa in our son’s name (we chuckled because the card actually said: “This gift of goat has been given in your name”).  The point?  My Grandma’s presents meant more than most others because they countered this somewhat distorted view of Christmas that we see every year.  That’s what I want our son to grow up seeing at Christmas time.

Here’s the Goo Goo Dolls’ take on it:

Better Days

And you ask me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we’ll find better days
Cuz I don’t need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we’ll find better days

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight’s the night the world begins again

And it’s someplace simple where we could live
And something only you can give
And thats faith and trust and peace while we’re alive
And the one poor child that saved this world
And there’s 10 million more who probably could
If we all just stopped and said a prayer for them

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight’s the night the world begins again

I wish everyone was loved tonight
And somehow stop this endless fight
Just a chance that maybe we’ll find better days

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight’s the night the world begins again
Cuz tonight’s the night the world begins again

~ by ryanmcbride on December 26, 2006.