The past few years, I’ve grown in to quite the pessimist around Christmas. The joy and lights replaced by stresses and bills. The amazing food and goodies replaced with counting calories and cutting carbs. No more heart racing excitement at the crack of dawn. No more strained ears listening for sleigh bells. It truly seems like nothing pulverizes the magic and wonder of Christmas like being an adult does.
This year started the same as always. Frigidly cold and dark drives to work long hours. Traffic, horrific traffic! Excruciating long lines at EVERY store. Everything just started to feel superfluous.
Finally, about two weeks ago it hit me, why in the heck have I been letting every miserable non-magical part of my surroundings ruin this joyous time of year? It’s not my surroundings’ responsibility to make me feel the holiday spirit. The presents, music, endless sugary treats, lights, etc. are just unimportant fluff. It comes every year “… without ribbons. It [comes] without tags. It [comes] without packages, boxes or bags… What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” I had been focusing on the sparkle and glitz, ignoring the real true spirit of the season. HE is the true spirit of Christmas.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men.
Luke 2:7-14
Today is a day set aside each and every year to think back to a tiny baby boy, born in a stable to a pure and virtuous, virgin mother. He was place in a humble manager instead of a glorious and splendid, golden throne. To the humblest of situations came our Savior. He came without ribbons, bows, packages, or bags. Just a peaceful and still night in a stable.
Instead of thinking about what I was going to GET this year, I began to think about what I could give to Him in return. Of course, all of this realization came while cleaning my house on a Monday when Nate was gone to work. As if to further cement my epiphany, Faith Hill’s rendition of Little Drummer Boy came on my Pandora station and hit me like a ton of bricks. Let me state this for the record, up until that moment I have LOATHED that song. In my opinion it was a stupid song that pa rum pum pum pum-ed just a little too much.
With the “pa rum pum pum pums” removed this is what it says:
Come they told me,
A new born King to see,
Our finest gifts we bring,
To lay before the King,
So to honor Him,
When we come
Little Baby,
I am a poor boy too,
I have no gift to bring,
That’s fit to give the King,
Shall I play for you,
On my drum?
On my drum?
I play my drum for Him
So to honor Him
Mary nodded,
The ox and lamb kept time,
I played my drum for Him,
I played my best for Him,
Then He smiled at me, Me and my drum
When we come. Me and my drum.
So, there I sat down on my grubby kitchen floor and actually listened to the lyrics. My heart burst as tears streamed from my eyes. The thought came plain and clear to me, “What would I have brought as my gift to Him?” No presents would ever equal His wonderful gift He gave to all mankind. What could a “poor boy” like me give to Him?
This spurred a change in my heart. My little Grinch heart must have grown three sizes that day. It renewed the magic that I’d been missing around this time of year. I began to look at everything with renewed appreciation. The time spent with family and the ones I love, outweighed any present that I could be given. Reading a book to my nephew while he sits on my lap or signing “I love you” to my niece from across a noisy room; became more precious gifts for me to give than toys.
With this new appreciation for the Spirit of Christmas, I hope to journey forth in to 2018 with greater faith in my Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ. Instead of wallowing in self-pity because of all the trials around me, I pray that I can focus on giving a gift back to Him by spreading His love.
I wish to all of you, the purest and most magical Christmas day. Remember, He is the reason for the season.
When did you most feel the true Spirit of Christmas? Comment below.
Need ideas on how to spread the true meaning of Christmas? Click here.
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