What Does Christmas Mean to You?

What does Christmas mean to you? Does it mean time with family and friends. Do you feel that it is all about giving gifts and receiving them? If you can't give, do you have feelings of guilt because you can't afford gifts? I think these are some of the reasons I get upset at Christmas. I hear so many times that someone can't afford to get a gift and that they will have to skip paying this bill or will have to use a charge card in order to get a gift that they really can't afford. But is this what we really should be focusing on when we think of Christmas. I think not!

The very first Christmas, God gave the greatest gift ever. His Son! And His Son gave the gift of His life – which was why He came. Because of this, we can have relationship with God as His children. Because of this gift, we are the children of God.


When I think of Christmas I think of the one and only true gift that can be given or received. Nothing else matters in the scheme of things. That perfect gift is Jesus Christ our/my Lord and Savior. I honestly don't think that He would want us celebrating His birth in the way we do. Don't get me wrong, I love putting up the tree and giving gifts. But if I can't, I don't let that ruin the true meaning of Christmas.


Wouldn't it be great if everyone did something for Christ that would truly make Him happy? It’s supposed to be His day, why not do something for Him and those He came to die for? Every town has something or ways to help out others. Even if it is knocking on your neighbors door and asking them if you can do something for them. Something as simple as bringing in a newspaper, holding a hand, making a batch of cookies or inviting a friend out could make a world of difference to that other person.


There was this little lady that I think of all the time. Her name was Dena Allen. I just adored Dean. She didn't really have anyone and not many understood her. Her husband Frank passed away many years before she did and her son Howard died of a drug overdose. During Christmas she had a hard time decorating and feeling the spirit of Christmas. I would go over to her house and put up a tiny tree and some of those musical lights. To me it was nothing, but to her it made her Christmas special. So we would sit and listen to the music from those lights, play Scrabble and once in a while I would listen to her about her family that has long passed. Things like this can make such a difference in someone’s life. If you have a neighbor or someone that is lonely, you may make their day if you just knocked on the door. I personally feel that these are the kind of things that Christ would want us to do for His day... Around our area there are many opportunities to make a difference in someone’s life.


So this Christmas, bear in mind the ‘True’ Christmas story, which led to the ‘True’ Easter story. Let us give thanks and praise to our heavenly Father for these events, which have changed our lives forever.


God of love, prepare my mind and heart for the coming celebration of Christ’s birth. Amen.


To sum things up... It's ok to give gifts, but wouldn't it be awesome to remember what the true meaning of Christmas is? I know I love to see my grandsons faces lighten up when they get their gifts and I enjoy getting my daughters what they want, but if I don't have the money, it's OK to tell them that you don't have it and it's even OK to not exchange gifts and spend time with one another on Christmas day...


"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16