Marco Island Truly Reflects The Meaning Of Christmas

There has been much said about the “commercialization” of the Christmas holidays. One might only have to walk into any of the big box stores to see the display of Christmas decorations and ornaments as early as October.

Six-foot-high inflatable Santa’s can be seen alongside Halloween lawn decorations, while our mailboxes become stuffed with holiday fliers and offers for early holiday shopping. It should make us all scratch our heads and wonder whether we’ve lost the true meaning of the season.

Christmas should be a time of rejoicing and of great happiness. It should be a time of recognition of the greatest gift ever granted to humanity.

However, for some it is a time of sorrow, as their circumstances may be different than ours and the happiness and excitement that fills the eyes of a neighbor’s child will be seen as just blank stares on the faces of their children.

For others it will be in the sadness of the loss of a loved one, or the realization that those closest to them will not be able to be present due to circumstances out of their control.

It is important therefore that we look around us to see what can be done to help those less fortunate or in need of a kind word to help lift their spirits.

We live in a region of the nation where those with great resources are only steps away from those with so little. We also have many near us that live alone and have lost those closest to them, leaving this time of year as an especially lonely one for them.

Each and every one of us can help to make this time of year more representative of what it should be about, and many do so in their commitment to the many charities and efforts that are undertaken this time of year.

The efforts undertaken by the Toys for Tots by the United States Marines Corps, the Joy of Giving endeavor, and the wonderful philanthropy shown by the Island Country Club in support of our First Responders and their families. The hard work and dedication of the Marco Island Kiwanis Club and their annual presentation of gifts for needy children was heartwarming as always.

Additionally, the joint effort of the Marco Riders and Christmas Island Style in support of those in need was also a wonderful act of kindness for those seeking stability in their lives as they collected gifts and donated them as they rode their motorcycles in the street parade.

A touching scene played out a few Friday nights ago at the annual Christmas Box Angel Memorial Service held within a short distance from the beautiful Christmas Tree located at Veterans Community Park. It is a wonderful gesture for those children with us no longer.

Outreach programs by our local churches and fraternal organizations for those just alone during this special time of year are undertaken in a quiet and respectful manner, protecting the privacy of those who just need to know they are not forgotten. 

It is also a time for us all to remember those in public safety, especially those who have lost their lives in service to their communities around the Nation. Each will leave behind families who will grieve during this holiday instead of celebrating the wonderment of the season. 

A prayer should also be said for those in uniform who serve this great nation and protect these traditions we all hold dear. Many stand watch in harm’s way thousands of miles from home and away from their families as they protect us and our nation.

This is a holiday season which sees us opening our hearts to all around us. It is a time when we should reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and the great gift received by each generation that has come and gone since that special evening that saw shepherds, wise men, and angels celebrate the birth of not only a baby in a manger but of hope for all generations to come for a better world.

Merry Christmas to all and thank you Marco Island for showing the true meaning of Christmas.