The Meaning of Celebrating Christmas….

There are a variety of ways that people will celebrate Christmas, depending on traditions, how they were raised, family get-togethers and so much more.  The most obvious being how we celebrated holidays as children within our own families.  Most of us just go off of tradition.  Okay, nothing wrong with that, I am sure!  So, what is it that I am pondering today?  Well, funny you should ask…..

What I am pondering this morning as I sit here writing this is quite simple really!  I am pondering the need (that we as a society seemed to have made for ourselves) for commercialization.  In other words, I am pondering the need of running out practically every single moment before Christmas to find that “perfect gift” or to make sure that every single person in your life knows that you are thinking of them, regardless of what your relationship to them might be or might have been!  I mean, come on, now let’s get with it people!  You don’t have to “insist” on gifting to every single man, woman or child that you might have “passed” or had a quick conversation with at one time.

The true and most pure form of Christmas is when we sit back, relax and just enjoy our families.  We are SUPPOSED to do that.  We are supposed to enjoy the gathering of the family and the conversation that goes with it.  But, even more important than that, we are to gather with one another and remember that Christ died on that Cross to give us everlasting life.  Christ died in order to save us! 

That is amazing in itself.  I mean, who really does that?  Think about it!  I know that I would not hang from a cross in order to ‘free’ my fellow man!  I honestly don’t even think that I would have been able to utter the words to the thief next to me, “Forgive them Father, for they have sinned.”  I don’t think that is in my nature!

What I do think though, is that with each passing year, we are given yet another opportunity to show the love, kindness and dignity that Christ showed to us when he was on that Cross.  We are given the opportunity to treat each other right; do the right thing; even make someone else’s day just a little bit brighter.

I have learned through my own experiences and travels, that sometimes the best way to light up another person’s day is just to ask them a simple question, “Are you doing okay, today?”  It is amazing what the responses are that I have received!  And, trust me, as you stand or sit there listening, you just might learn something about someone!

We have amazing opportunities.  We are given amazing abilities each and every single day.  So, instead of complaining about what you DON’T have, why don’t we learn to appreciate what we DO have?!  Now, that would be a truly novel idea! 

And, who knows, it just might make the world a better place, by starting with one person at a time!