By MARY ANN CROSBY

Each year as society progresses to greater heights, Christmas spirit fades away in the distance. If our world continues to make great advances in technology and industry and forgets small things which make life worthwhile, then the warmness and enthusiasm which accompanies "Peace on earth, Good will toward men" will soon be nonexistent.

Looking around, trying to find some hint of Christmas spirit, all I see is a giant, mechanical, money‑grabbing monster, painted red and green, dripping with tinsel, and broadcasting "HO‑HO‑HO!" over loud speakers. Those remnants of Christmas spirit that remain struggle to fight this monster and all its accomplices, including plastic poinsettias, life‑size, glow‑in‑the‑dark Santa Clauses on front porches, and hundreds of toy commercials on television.

Children of this modern age rarely experience real Christmas trees. They are indoctrinated with the ridiculous idea that Christmas trees are made of shiny metal, come in numerous colors including shocking pink and baby blue, can be taken apart limb by limb, and live in cardboard boxes in garages when not in season.

Children also believe that Santa Claus rides over phony snow on electric razors, that tiny cameras are "born" out of shiny tree ornaments, and that the values of gifts are in their prices. It's shameful that we cannot give children Christmas memories for future years. But no, we spoil their innocent dreams and wishes with burdens of worldly knowledge and the false security of material wealth.

 To buy suitable gifts and therefore show their affection for loved ones, people embark on that annual, deathly journey known as Christmas shopping. Hung on the outside of every store should be signs proclaiming "Warning: Christmas shopping can be hazardous to your health." Better yet, shoppers should be equipped with completely protective outfits, resembling those of gladiators going to battle, to guarantee that they emerge from their ordeal without being folded, bent, spindled, or mangled beyond recognition.

Christmas is traditionally a gift‑giving time, more so than any other; but it has become so commercially oriented that people fail to see truly valuable gifts under the barrage of material ones. Give your loved ones gifts of loyalty, honesty, trust, and companionship, and they will most likely think you are cheap and unthoughtful, since they cannot see these gifts before them, brightly packaged and littered with price tags.

It seems like there is nothing left which carries the true meaning of Christmas, yet there are small things which bring Christmas back to its true perspective. These things are difficult to find, but search and you shall find them. See Christmas in your little brothers' and sisters' eyes when snow begins to fall, or in sprigs of holly, or candles being lit at dusk.

When individuals find their own special meaning of Christmas spirit, when they get thrills out of simple things that make this season what it is, then maybe Christmas and its feeling won't be lost after all.