Article December 8, 1986 Issue

Christmas is always

Sometimes in all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, we forget the most important thing—just what Christmas is all about.

Jane W. Hastings

The gift came as a surprise, but the message on the gift card was even more of a surprise. It said, "Christmas is always." Yet this was early spring!

The gift had been sent by a young man we often included with our family for tennis or skiing or dinner at home. There had been no formality, no "hostess gifts," just casual, enjoyable times together. Then along came this unexpected expression of his gratitude. We all had a good laugh over the message, catching its reference to our young friend's habit of being a bit late, then played the record of beautiful ballet music he had given us.

Of course, that bit of whimsy on the gift card was not intended to be pondered, but it has been—many times. The truth it so simply states has had a quieting, healing effect in my life. Those three words point up an important fact: the timelessness of Christmas.

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