It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. Just look at all of the excitement in the faces of the children around town. Even more so than that, look at the excitement (or exhaustion) on the faces of the parents.

The holiday season can mean many different things to people. Some people get so excited about Christmas that they live in a whimsical fairy land for the full month of December. They count sugar plums in their sleep and wear Santa hats while shopping. These are the people who make the season so bright. Just to be around happy people does tend to make a person happy.

On the other hand, this season can really pull out the scrooge in folks. Many may not actually say “Bah humbug!” but you can read it all over their faces. While it’s easy to be hard on the ones who hate on Christmas, let’s take a little time to see things from their perspective.

We really never know why someone may be having a rough time through the holidays. Many times, if a person has lost a loved one during these months, it is hard to drive through the emotions of loss and grief just to turn on the holiday cheer. To these people, our prayers go out to you while you deal with your loss.

It may not even be a case of a death, it could be a family split or even a tragic accident that you remember during this time. If this is the case, then keep all of that in perspective, but don’t lose sight of the life you still have left to live. You can still make your future Christmases bright. Just start to make the effort this year to turn Christmas into a good time of remembrance. Build and grow new, happier memories from this point forward.

We can live in the past and be pulled in every direction by grief, pain, remorse or hate, or we can pull it all together and forge through to some really great times beginning this year.

So haul out the holly and start to bring on that holiday cheer. Around my neck of the woods, the holiday cheer really starts to go into effect on Thanksgiving night, when my siblings and I always find an excuse to be in ridiculously long lines by midnight to get $20 off things we don’t really need. We usually take a three-hour nap and then hit the big shopping by 5 the next morning.

After fighting for the deals and scratching our way to the front of checkout lines, we further embrace the season by cooking way too much food and enjoying the state rivalry football game. As a diehard Auburn fan, I don’t care to elaborate on that event this year.

After this excitement is over, it’s time to start planning all of the tree lightings, Christmas plays, parades, family gatherings and nights with friends. The holidays are so much better when being shared with the ones that we love.

Remember that the birth of Christ is the real reason for this upcoming season, and since Jesus invented relationships, He must want us to have fun with the people we love. Have a happy holiday season and surround yourself with joy and love.