Commericalized Christmas

I am writing this letter in hopes that it will remind people of what Christmas really is about and make them realize how much we as people have commercialized Christmas.

Yesterday my heart was saddened as a mother, as a daughter, as a sister, as a granddaughter, in fact in general as a person when I turned on the evening news and heard the story of a Wal-Mart employee, just hired for the Christmas shopping season, being trampled to death in a Long Island store.

My thoughts went to his family and how they would have to celebrate this joyous holiday season without their father, husband, son, uncle, maybe even grandfather. The worst part is it was all due to the greed and the desire of impatient shoppers to get the best toy or item for a loved one this Christmas. What made it worse was to hear the total lack of care for another human life as they grumbled because they were being asked to leave the store so that this man could get much needed medical attention.

My hopes are that as the loved ones of these impatient shoppers open that gift on Christmas Day that they will take a moment and remember this man and his family that has been caused such grief.

I also hope that people all over the country will join with my family this Christmas in remembering not just this man and his family, but all the families of lost loved ones. Also please remember that Jesus is The Reason for the Season and that it was his birth to a virgin mother that started this wonderful holiday of Christmas. And that he is the true gift of the season.

Danielle Griffith
Lake Placid