This season is all about the Christmas and to many people, Christmas is just another public holiday. A day to share gifts, to eat, drink, rest, and go out and enjoy time with friends. However, to me, Christmas is far greater than food, clothes or any form of gatherings. It is a day that carries deep meaning, one that goes beyond pleasure. It is a time to remember, reflect, and realign my life with what truly matters.
From a biblical point of view, Christmas marks the birth of Jesus Christ. Its a day that reminds us of God’s love for humanity. The Bible says in John 3:16 that God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. This verse explains the heart of Christmas. It is about love that gives, not love that takes. Christ left His place in heaven and came into the world to live among people, face suffering, and eventually die for our sake. Christmas becomes very personal to me when I think of this verse. It always reminds me that I am loved, not because I am perfect, but because God chose to love me anyway.
Christmas means three things to me. Forgiveness, appreciate/gratitude and reflection.
Forgiveness in the sense that If God could forgive me despite my many mistakes, then I also should forgive others. For me, Christmas is a season to let go of anger, pain, and past wrongs. It is a time to release negative experiences that have weighed me down during the year. It is a time to choose peace over bitterness and deciding to move forward without carrying heavy emotional burdens. This is one of the ways I try to celebrate Christmas.
Secondly, Christmas also means a day of appreciation and showing gratitude. First, appreciate to God for life. Many people started the year, but not everyone lived to see Christmas. Being alive is a gift, and I do not take it for granted. I thank God for strength, protection, and provision throughout the year. Then I appreciate people. I make sure that I made an effort to reach out to those who have contributed to my life in one way or another. People who have impacted me through advice, support, kindness, correction and even appreciate people who think they did evil but the evil turned out to be a blessing to my life. Sometimes I call them. Sometimes I send a message or small airtime to their phone. The amount does not matter. What matters is the heart of gratitude and remembrance.
Thirdly, Christmas is a time for me to reflect on year. I see it as a time to look back at the year and assess my life. Every January, I usually write a list of goals I will want to achieve before the year runs out and by Christmas, I sit down to review them and to check if I have improved. Improve in my finance, like have I grown financially? Have I improved spiritually? Have I developed my skills or learned something new? In areas where I have made progress, I feel thankful. In areas where I fell short, I take note and learn from them. This reflection helps me prepare better for the coming year.
To make sure I do not celebrate Christmas like any random day, I am intentional about my actions. I remind myself of its meaning and of the things I mentioned above. The forgiveness, gratitude and reflection. These values guide how I celebrate Christmas and when things happened Christmas becomes truly meaningful for me.