Well, bust my buttons! Why didn’t you say that in the first place? That’s a horse of a different color! Come on in! – Gateman “The Wizard of Oz.”
I thought the quote, “That’s a horse of a different color,” originated from the movie “The Wizard of Oz.” So, I went to digging on the great interwebs, and well, what did I find? To my dismay, it wasn’t. It may have been coined by our favorite old English dude, Shakespeare. In the Twelfth Night, 2:3, he wrote, “a horse of that color,” which meant “the same matter.” The saying then morphed into pointing out a difference instead of a likeness.
“Well, bust my buttons!”.
Now here we are in the throes of our pandemic Christmas, and all those visions of sugar plums dancing have turned to facemasks and hand sanitizer. I want my Christmas and I want it now!
So, where do we go from here? Well, That’s a Christmas of a Different Color…Come on in!
As Americans, we have long since been adapting to our surroundings, changing food traditions for lack of ingredients or convenience, changing names and clothing choices to “fit in.” We are an adaptive society, so why shouldn’t this year be any different!
Fear Not! We can keep the Spirit of Christmas alive and well even while under these oppressive conditions! Let’s accept this challenge and make this the most memorable Christmas ever.
REMEMBERING… We can remember why we celebrate Christmas in the first place! All the season’s busyness often distracts us from celebrating the birth of Jesus, who is our true gift. We now have the quiet moments we often complain are taken from us. Find a special way to share the story with your family. I envision a night with all my kids cozied up in their jammies, sipping cocoa and listening to their dad, in his charming voice, reading a Christmas story.
GIVING… If you have been blessed during this season and can still work or work from home, what if we find a way to bless others from our abundance in a different way? We can turn ding-dong-ditch into a special holiday surprise on your neighbor’s doorstep, doused with Lysol, of course. Giving is cathartic and will be an excellent example to our children on how to be generous.
LOVING… We can’t go wrong with love! Love is the direct enemy of fear, which is a very real and oppressive feeling. If we can be understanding, forgiving, and accepting in this season, collectively care about each other, respect each other and find ways to help others cope and succeed, this Christmas will be one to remember.
I hope and pray we can all make the best of this year, being creative and joyful despite our hardships. Create new traditions, celebrate life, anticipate the best for the coming year, and enjoy this Christmas of a different color!
Blessings to you all!
Holly
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