Christmas is coming. :)
For those who don't know, Christmas is my hands-down favorite holiday of the year. I have a Christmas sweater that I wear at least once a month, I listen to Christmas music year 'round, and sometimes, for my birthday (which is in mid-spring by the way) I pretend it's second Christmas.
There's just something about this time of year that makes my heart smile. Maybe it's the snow. When the world is white, and everything is still and quiet, when fluffy flakes flutter to the ground, I feel as though the air is filled with magic. Or maybe it's the Christmas lights, shining in the dark, lighting up the sky. Perhaps it's the increase in my consumption of hot chocolate, or the cheerful music, or brightly colored Christmas packages, wrapped in anticipation for Christmas morning, or the way that people act a little bit kinder towards one another when they think of the coming holiday.
Whatever the reasons, I love Christmas.
But I think the thing I love the most about Christmas, is that people think more about Christ. I think the spirit of Christmas could just as easily be called the spirit of Christ. After all, he's the reason we're celebrating.
As an adult, I've pondered this question as well, but with a slightly different attitude. What makes giving gifts so wonderful? You know that moment when someone you loves unwraps a carefully thought-out, heart-felt gift, and you know you got the perfect gift? Their face lights up, everyone gets excited, hugs of gratitude are exchanged, and you're just happy you finally got it right. It's one of the best feelings in the world! My roommates and I had a special "Roommate Christmas" yesterday, and my favorite moments by far, were watching the girls I've grown so close to this semester open the things I got for them.
It took me a while, but I think I finally figured it out.
Christmas is about Christ, and commemorating the gift he gave us by coming to earth. After all, his life, death, and resurrection were the greatest gifts ever given. He lived his life so that we could learn the way back to Heaven. He gave his life, so that change and forgiveness were within our reach. He was resurrected, he broke the bands of death, so that we could all, one day, live again. Because of the gifts that Christ gave us, starting with his humble birth, life has meaning, and death is not the end. Could there be a greater gift?
Yea, even doth not Isaiah say: Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Mosiah 14:1-5 (see also Isaiah 53:1-5)
As we give to others, whether we give physical gifts, money, or merely our time, we are following the example that the Savior set for us. We are using the gifts he gave to make our lives, and the lives of others, well, better.
So that's where that good feeling comes from.
This is my favorite version of my favorite Christmas hymn. I hope that as you watch it, and as you prepare to celebrate Christmas, that you can feel the magic that I do, floating through the air. I hope that the next time you see a snowflake, Christmas lights, or packages decorated in colorful bows, that you can have the excitement of a child, but the wisdom of your years. In short, I hope that the spirit of Christmas fills your heart.
Merry Christmas my friends.
Have a wonderful holiday.
