I was reading an entry here and it inspired me to write my own blurb about the matter. Mind you, I understand the points being made here both large and small, but at the same time, I do not see this as a reason to be upset. Taking time to observe, I've seen and heard time and time again about how Christmas has lost its meaning/become too commercialized/is focused around money money and more money/is all about the presents and so forth. I could be mad at the world for that. In the US, where I am, this is something that is very real and equally frustrating.
Instead, I choose to see what is in front of me. My mom just came in the house from a long night of work at the hospital. The TV is on, the kids are up relatively early. We have some boxes with wrapping paper in the living room that we are going to open pretty soon. Santa might come up as a joke or a passing thought, but nothing more. The thing that is most important where I am now is that we are together and we love each other. Is this the only time we get together? No. Is this the only time we trade gifts with each other? No. This is just one time out of a year that we do such things.... just like everyone else. Why is this a big deal? Because the gifts are a bit more extravagant for everyone instead of just a couple of us here and there.
Christmas in and of itself is a christian holiday extended from a pagan holiday that we've celebrated on December the 25th as long as anyone in my family has been alive to commemorate God's biggest gift to humankind ever in the form of Jesus Christ. Was He born on this specific day? Unlikely, but I'll take it because I don't have a way to actually find out what day it was exactly. Not to mention the fact that I am sure God doesn't care what day we pick for that. St. Nicholas is a real person we've immortalized as a magical being with reindeer that gives presents to kids around the world. You can do the research on your own if you like.
Do I care about all of this? No. Here's what I do care about (in bullet form):
- God loves us and gave us a gift.
- We should love each other and give to one another.
- This is a day in the year to recall us to those basic ideas.
Before we get into all the other things we are mad about, let's clear our minds and let these things sink in. We have all year to be mad at people, disappointed and disillusioned. Why don't we take a break and just enjoy Christmas.
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