We cannot have Christmas

anymore. It might upset some people. How dare you even consider putting up a Nativity scene during the festive season!

There was an incident in the children's hospital yesterday. Someone had complained about a simple, knitted Nativity scene being put on display. 

The hospital has a good reputation for trying to give their young patients something to enjoy if they are in hospital over the festive season. There are visits from Santa Claus, from sportspeople and other celebrities. Gifts are given, especially to those whose parents are not able to be with them.  The wards are decorated. 

For many years the Senior Cat taught the "clown doctors" the sort of "close up magic" that delights children. They would take their "tricks" back into the hospital and give individual children a few minutes of happiness. Over the seemingly endless mugs of tea and coffee in our kitchen I came to know how hard those entertainers worked and what a drain it could be on them. It was even harder around Christmastime. They needed all the support they could get.

That is why decorating the hospital, having a Nativity scene and more is so important. This is not done just for the "fun" of it. There is something very serious about all this. It all assists in the recovery of the patients and it supports their families.

Anyone who gives any thought to these things would realise that but someone complained about the Nativity scene and it was removed. It would be interesting to know who the complainant was but we are unlikely to be told. An appeal went up to the Minister for Health and he made an order the Nativity scene be returned. Then there was a statement by the hospital's director that the hospital did celebrate Christmas.

But what are most people really celebrating? The vast majority of people will not attend any form of church service or even stop to really consider what Christmas is actually about. They will give each other gifts they cannot really afford and eat more food than they actually need. There will be tears and tantrums and fights that are far removed from the real meaning of Christmas.

With all that and the fuss about the Nativity scene at the hospital it was a relief to go into the local library and see the decorations. On the front desk there is a lit Nativity scene and, standing in front of it, there were two small children staring up at it with expressions of pure joy.  One of the staff told me quietly, "I think we got it right this time."  Yes, you did.