With Christmas only 4 days away, Christian's all over America are frantically finishing their preparations for the big day. The holiday season is the busiest season of the year and I don't think anyone would challenge that. With all of the shopping, cooking, cleaning, entertaining, and planning to do, Christian's rarely have a time for rest. Needless to say, all other religions of the world are equally as busy preparing for their special day or days. Everyone is always running around and rushing everywhere but do we ever slow down to stop and look at our surroundings? A popular Christmas tradition is displaying lights in your yard. Whether you have Santa and his reindeer, a nativity scene, or lots of twinkling lights for all your neighbors to see, Christmas lights are one tradition that never grows old. With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we should slow down every once and a while to stop and look at the lights. We shouldn't take them for granted or assume they will always be there. We should gaze in awe at the amazing decorations our fellow Christian's have provided us. All religions should display their holiday decorations proudly during their season. The article, Why Christmas Lights Warm the Soul, reminds us to slow down during the holiday season and look at our surroundings. After losing a parent, author Alcestis "Cooky" Oberg, reminds us to be thankful for the little things in life.
Oberg used pathos when writing her article to persuade her audience to agree with her opinion. She began her article with talking about the death of her parent and how hard the holiday seasons are the first year after losing them. After being a strong support system for her children, Oberg had to be reminded by her friends to look at the little things and life and enjoy them. She encourages all of us, Christian or not, to appreciate the decorations provided for this season. Although she is Christian and favors the Christmas decorations, Oberg appeared to have a welcoming attitude and was open to all decorations of all religions. She ended her article by saying, "But Christmas lights do reach a place we don't always consciously control — the realm of wonder, magic and delight we instinctively feel in a beautifully illuminated place. On the Christmas-lit bridge of Chickasha, for instance, one can even find new hope, a fresh start, the renewed embrace of cheer and fellowship — all the best things implicit in the season, and in us all." Happy Holidays!
Why Christmas Lights Warm the Soul by Alcestis "Cooky" Oberg
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/story/2011-12-21/christmas-holiday-lights-gifts/52144870/1?loc=interstitialskip
I like this, because it is a message that can be applied to all aspects of life. I like how the author was willing to open up about their parent's death in order to share the lesson she learned from it.
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