what is the most wonderful time of the year?

All day Andy Griffith has been in my head singing:

I could not remember the words, so this evening I used my Google prowess.
I wanted to rightly informed as I wrote my rebuttal 
concerning what this song insists makes it wonderful:

"It's the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you be of good cheer
It's the most wonderful time of the year"

"It's the most wonderful time of the year..."

unless your kids are grown and gone
or they are around and do nothing but bicker and fight
or you desperately want children and don't have them
or you weren't planning on having any and suddenly find you are expecting...
or were happily expecting and now you aren't 
and everyone is telling to be of good cheer...
but you have nothing to cheer about

"It's the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
It's the hap-happiest season of all"

"It's the hap=hapiest season of all.."
unless you are being pelted by well meaning people 
and this year you aren't part of the gay, happy meetings
and friends don't come to call
and you are knee deep (or deeper) in grief or pain or sorrow

"There'll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There'll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long ago"

unless you don't have the resources for hosting
and aren't on the list of "who to invite"
or are diabetic or dieting
or hate the snow 
or love the snow and don't have any
(also, what do ghost stories have to do with Christmas ???)
and what if Christmases long long ago were full of anything but glory

"It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When loved ones are near
It's the most wonderful time of the year"

unless you don't have a mistletoe partner
and your heart has been shattered
and loved ones are far from near
then, 
well then it may not be the most wonderful time of the year....

for those who are full of holiday cheer and goodwill, yay for you!

I do not want to downplay or discredit or dull your excitement
but I do have a request-
please, be mindful of this:
for some, 
this season, 
the one that is supposed to be 
"the most wonderful time of the year"
is anything but wonderful 

rather, 
it is filled with: 
stress
unrealistic expectations
wishes they want to grant and can't
reminders of what they want and do not, cannot, have
memories of what they had and will never have again

so please,
encourage others to find joy
but don't be a bully about it
invite others in, and don't be offended if their answer is no
if their answer is yes and the visit is cut short, don't take it personally
extend grace
be kind and compassionate
love lavishly, right where others are
and remember what, 
or rather Who*, 
it is that makes this and every season wonderful

*and if you do not know this Savior,
If Jesus Christ the Lord is a stranger to you
or your relationship with Him has been estranged,
I encourage you in this season that we celebrate His birth-
get to know Him personally. There is no one like Him.