Just two crafting days remain before Christmas. As I wrap the last of the homemade gifts for my children I begin to tackle the gift I'm making for my cat, Maya. A cat bed.

JoAnn Fabrics was pretty quiet tonight. All those who are making things are frantically putting on the finishing touches, not starting something new.

Joann's mails a lot of coupons and after making my purchase, I had several coupons remaining. I turned to the person behind me in line and asked if she could use a couple coupons. Her face lit up: "I need a coupon," she said. "This item I'm buying is $30 without a coupon. You are really saving me a lot!"

"My pleasure, Merry Christmas," I said.

The fear that you see in people's eyes as they dare to name the holiday that is about to be celebrated on December 25, amazes me. I have no trouble wishing my friends Happy Hanukkah. And my Jewish friends freely wish me a Merry Christmas.

In an effort to become so politically correct as to avoid offending ANYONE, we have missed the point of the message.

I read a short story not long ago in a book call Mini Moments for Christmas. It tells the tale of the Wright Brothers.

Orville and Wilbur Wright had tried repeatedly to fly a heavier-than-air craft. Finally on December 17, 1903, it happened. They managed to fly their plane about 120 feet! They actually flew! Elated, they had done what had never been done by anyone before. They wired a telegram with this news back home to their sister Katherine: "We have actually flown 120 feet. STOP. Will be home for Christmas. STOP."

She ran down the street all excited and shoved the telegram, which was the news scoop of the new century, at the city editor of the local daily paper in Dayton, Ohio. The next day he had headlined the story like this:

LOCAL BICYCLE MERCHANTS TO BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!

Talk about missing the real story.

Are you missing the story?

Move beyond the real reason for this holiday season and think about your business.

How often do you miss the real message behind what a colleague communicates, your boss dictates or your customers desire?

Are you really hearing the message being communicated?

Deborah Chaddock Brown
Writer, Seamstress