I realised that the older I become, the more the significance of Christmas evolves. When I was younger it meant expectation, a new wardrobe, a festive feast, the glint of laughter, the pleasure of embracing a day like no other. But now it’s more than that. Today, it’s a very different kind of holiday season.
For me, Christmas isn't just a day of the year, it’s a reminder. A reminder of love, not perfect butgentle love that brings itself out when there are uncertain times, too.
Jesus Christ’s birth symbolizes meekness and sacrifice, and every year, that’s been a message that seems to mean as much to me as my next breath. It reminds me that I don't have to do a lot with my love to make a difference, that hope can pop up in some pretty messy places.
One of the things that I have come to equate Christmas with is the value of gratitude. It's not only the apparent blessings that I am grateful for, such as sustenance, the presence of loved ones, and the ability to feel comfort. But also the simple virtue of surviving and thriving. There were months in this year that were very difficult for me. Months that tested my resolve. Months that I struggled to press on through. But Christmas always serves as a reminder to me to be grateful for the simple virtue of surviving to reach this point.
Christmas also makes me more understanding and compassionate towards people. It helps me remember the significance of family, not just the one I share blood with, but the ones who have been with me in each season of life. It helps me learn that, while people might not have to be perfect, their presence in my life is more important than their performance.
Giving, for me, is one of the most truthful traditions of Christmas. Not only giving presents but also giving a bad person some patience, a grudge-holding person some forgiveness, a difficult person some kindness. Sometimes just showing up for a person is something wonderful.
Ultimately, the difference that Christmas makes for me is hope. The hope that no matter how tough life might get, there is always a place for renewal that exists within each of these holiday seasons. The realization that the light is always there, even when the darkness descends, that love, when lived every day, can change everything. It is the meaning of Christmas that I now bear in my heart and hope to embody beyond the holiday season.
Merry Xmas 🎄 🎁 in advance to y'all
