Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward...

I’ve started writing this post about two or three times now and each time I would begin a good sarcastic rant something would pull me back. My full intent was to get on a full on venomous holiday tirade complete with Christmas trees a burnin’, “accident” prone Santas, pornographic cookies and shopping mall smack downs. But then I decided to focus on the good I’ve seen around me lately. Not in ME but AROUND me. I have a rep to up hold after all.

At this time of we all seem to get more and more caught up in the tsunami of commercialism, self privilege and indulgence of this season. These days Christmas starts in August with the retail stores proudly displaying artificial trees, baking goods and “holiday discounts.” Soon after the radio stations start to drown the airwaves with confectionery multi-genre yuletide tunes. B y December 25th instead of dreaming about Sugar Plum Fairies you dream about impaling Kelly Clarkson, Josh Groban and Bing Crosby with a snow plow front mounted with spikes. Along with all of this “joy” and “spirit” of the season come repetitive TV specials, ugly sweater parties and uncomfortable office holiday lunches. But among the blinding holiday lights there are still small glimmers of hope for humanity. There are still twinges of peace on earth, good will toward men and women this time of year.

I’ve heard tell lately of some of these little tales of human inspiration and sense of good. One of these stories was of daughters and mothers and sisters and how sacrifices are made. The sacrifices made were by the two sisters. One sister’s sacrifice was giving up her child for a better life that more than likely she could not provide for her daughter given her current circumstances. It’s never easy to give up your child no matter what the situation. The other sister sacrificed a bit of her life and freedom to take in her niece and raise her as her own. The sisters, their mother and their family have been fighting tirelessly in court for custody of this little girl from her less than up standing “father” who wants custody of the child. It has been a never ending battle between these women and the recently paroled “sperm doaner.” These two women come from a long line of strong, loving and giving women who would give up almost anything for their children. I’ve known these sisters, their mother and their family for quite a while now. I have seen them all go through a lot but they have always done it with strength and dignity. They have given of themselves in most of these situations and most of the time everyone is better for it.

The other story was from a friend of mine who works in the family court system and a case of domestic violence she’s been working on. The woman had been abused for some time by her boyfriend. One night she had enough and called the police but not before the boyfriend belted her around a few times nearly knocking her eye out of its socket. When she tried to call 911 he knocked the phone out of her hand and called the police claiming he was being abused. When the police arrived she was a bloody mess barely able to stand and he had A SCRATCH on him. But she was the one hauled away in handcuffs. My friend and her team have been working around the clock to help this woman out of her current situation. Fighting against the rule of law is never easy even when the laws are stupid but they’re trying. They’re trying to do what’s right. Sometimes our own sense of morality and justice has to overrule law. Luckily they are not alone in this battle they’ve had some help from other with same code of righteousness as they have. Most people would have given up by now. Not these people. They are fighting for the sake of one woman who had no one else in her corner. They are TRYING to do good. I realize in most situations our hands are tied by the rule of law. But as humans we should realize also there are times where the law needs to be bent to do what’s right. By no means is this over for my friend or this woman but at least there’s still hope.

It could just be that time of year where Christmas brings out the best in us. Or maybe I just never noticed before but I am seeing little glimpses of humanity more and more lately. In everyday things like a little girl saying ‘thank you’, a young man holding the door open for an elderly woman who is having difficulty, waving someone on before you at a stop sign, people saying ‘Hi’ or ‘Merry Christmas’ to each other or just random smiles. Maybe there is still hope for humanity and the world if good people like us still exist in it.

I think as we get older we become a little more cynical about life and people in the world. In those cases experience usually plays a big part in altering our earthly perception. I know it did for me. I didn’t start off with a lot of hope for my future; at one point I didn’t think I’d have a future at all. It was rough for me when I was younger. I pretty much had to go it alone most of the time and learn to “roll with the punches” let’s say. With time though wounds heal but they do leave some long lasting scars. Over the past few years I’ve learned not to hide the scars as much as to wear them with honor. They’re a map of where I’ve been and how I got there. If it wasn’t for a few kind people who wouldn’t give it and stayed in my corner I’m not sure perception would have ever changed. They helped the most. Not with huge gestures or RAH RAH motivating speeches but just by being there. Showing me I wasn’t alone. Showing me what I was or could be. Showing me there is still some good people in world. Ones who will help you stand up and stand with you in times of need. As long as people like that are still around I think we’ll be ok. DING! Another angel got their wings! Merry Christmas.