Last Christmas we were
thinking about all the things we didn’t have;
this Christmas we are thinking about all the things we do have.
Last Christmas we were
placing wreaths on the doors of our homes;
this Christmas we are placing wreaths on the graves of our heroes.
Last Christmas we were
letting our sons play with toy guns;
this Christmas we are teaching them that guns are not toys.
Last Christmas we were
counting our money;
this Christmas we are counting our blessings.
Last Christmas we were
lighting candles to decorate;
this Christmas we are lighting candles to commemorate.
Last Christmas we paid
lip service to the real meaning of the holidays;
this Christmas we are paying homage to it.
Last Christmas we were
digging deep into our bank accounts to find money to fly
home for the holidays;
this Christmas we are digging deep into our souls to find the
courage to do so.
Last Christmas we were
trying not to let annoying relatives get the best of us;
this Christmas we are trying to give the best of ourselves to them.
Last Christmas we
thought it was enough to celebrate the holidays;
this Christmas we know we must also find ways to consecrate them.
Last Christmas we
thought a man who could rush down a football field was a hero;
this Christmas we know a man who rushes into a burning building is
the real one.
Last Christmas we were
thinking about the madness of the holidays;
this Christmas we are thinking about the meaning of them.
Last Christmas we were
getting on one another’s nerves;
this Christmas we are getting on our knees.
Last Christmas we were
giving thanks for gifts from stores;
this Christmas we are giving thanks for gifts from God.
Last Christmas we were
wondering how to give our children all the things that money can
buy;
this Christmas we are wondering how to give them all the things
money can’t (peace, security).
Last Christmas we were
thinking about all the pressure we were under at the office;
this Christmas we are thinking about all the people who no longer
have an office to go to.
Last Christmas we were
singing carols;
this Christmas we are singing anthems.
Last Christmas we were
thinking how good it would feel to be affluent;
this Christmas we are thinking how good it feels to be alive.
Last Christmas we
thought angels were in heaven;
this Christmas we know they are right here on earth.
Last Christmas we were
contemplating all the changes we wanted to make in the new year;
this Christmas we are contemplating all the changes we will have to
make in this new reality.
Last Christmas we
believed in the power of the pocketbook;
this Christmas we believe in the power of prayer.
Last Christmas we were
sharing — spreading — listening to gossip;
this Christmas we are sharing — spreading — listening to the Gospel.
Last Christmas we were
complaining about how much of our earnings went to taxes;
this Christmas we comprehend that freedom isn’t free.
Last Christmas we valued
things that were costly;
this Christmas we value things that are holy.
Last Christmas the
people we idolized wore sports uniforms;
this Christmas the people we idolize wear police, firefighter and
military uniforms.
Last Christmas peace on
earth was something we prayed for on Sunday morning;
now it’s something we pray for every day.
