Hey guys, Chilton here, and we’re about twelve days away from the most wonderful time of the year…
CHRISTMAS!!!
A perfect time for a soapbox blog. Now, if you’re like the majority of the internet, the following image just might make you shutter:
Oh yeah, we’re going there. Many will tell you that this is the absolute worst Christmas song of all time. The main reason people hate it?
“It’s too sad for Christmas.”
Yeah, let’s talk about that for a second. I’m probably not going to make a lot of friends for saying this, but…I don’t hate this song. In fact, I don’t even think it’s that bad.
But hear me out. I totally get why people would hate it. I mean, among other things, Christmas is about phrases like “joy to the world” and “peace on earth and goodwill towards men”. So to hear a Christmas song implying that someone is sick and on the verge of death can throw people off. After all, like I said before, Christmas is supposed to be a happy time.
But how many of us are so focused on our own happiness that we forget about everyone else? I won’t say any names, but I’ll admit that I’m guilty of it. Let’s face it–tragedy can strike any time of the year. Financial issues, sickness, death, you name it. At the risk of sounding cliché, it doesn’t take a holiday. Heck, every week on the way to work, I have to go by a house that halfway burnt down before Thanksgiving. One can imagine how hard it’s gotta be for that family.
That’s when those phrases I mentioned earlier become more than just phrases. They become words of encouragement for those people. Look at the charities that pop up this time of year. Some churches have Operation Christmas Child. Some cities have Toys for Tots. And whether or not you agree with their way of thinking, The Salvation Army takes donations for people in need. So how does it all tie in to this song?
To me, “The Christmas Shoes” isn’t about God threatening to kill someone if some guy doesn’t give up a gift originally intended for his wife. It’s about him giving that gift to someone in need because it’s the right thing to do. Maybe it’s just me, though. Maybe I’m biased. Maybe I’m simply thinking about it way too hard. Maybe it’s that I’m one of the only weirdos here that can tolerate Christian music. But I don’t think it matters all that much. If you disagree with me, by all means, tell me why. But if I’m the only one who finds optimism in an otherwise pessimistic song, so be it. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
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