Each year around this time, the whole world gets sentimental. It becomes a habit to wish perfect strangers well and wear our hearts on our sleeves, smiling giddily from the smell of fresh-baked cookies and the anticipation of the perfect gift, wrapped in a bow just for us. Rarely do the troubles of the world—the bills we have to pay, the strife in our families, or the irritations that keep us hurried and angry the rest of the year—interfere with our chance to be merry and bright. Why? Because unequivocally, this is how we are intended to be.
Whether you are a Christian or not, whether you celebrate Christmas or not, the energy of this time of year is palpable, no matter where your beliefs or traditions lie. Like our ancient ancestors who looked forward to all the greatness that was to come, we look to New Year’s and beyond with childlike hope and wonder, believing that things will be better and that we are given a second chance to live and to love. The warmth and festivity of the world seep into the hearts of people, helping them experience joy in ways that escape most of us during the regular rat race of life.
Embracing the Spirit of the Season
There are many theories about what the future holds for the world, but witnessing the magic of the Christmas season and the easy transition the world can make from being angry to being creatures of love shows that the meaning of Christmas is about leaving room to remember our divine purpose in this world. Sure, your mother-in-law and sister-in-law may drive you crazy, the kids may be unappreciative, and there will likely be familial tensions that bring us back to our own thwarted childhoods. But at the same time, we are living, breathing, and experiencing our worlds without hunger, war, poverty, illness, or restraint from accepting love.
The meaning of Christmas has changed over the years and is now viewed by many as a commercialized celebration, taken over by big business in hopes of revitalizing the economy. So be it. What it really seems to do, though, is revitalize the human spirit and soul. As we search for presents for loved ones and others, we are forced to walk in their world, in their shoes, for just a moment. It is then that we see a porcelain angel in the candy aisle and realize that this person is, in fact, an angel in our lives. The gift is bought, and the heart is sealed with remembrance and gratitude.
As we invite friends and family into our homes, we beam with pride for what we have. As we watch our families gather around the Christmas tree, there are fleeting feelings of being blessed in so many ways. As we prepare food for our bodies, we nourish our souls with togetherness and love. Watching a child walk through the snow with lights from store windows reflecting on their face is more priceless than any piece of art ever created. Allowing our bodies and minds to be conductors of love during this time of year has the power to unite humans like no other. So, whether or not the Wal-Marts and Barneys of the world are making a ton of money off our feeling pressured to buy and spend is a non-issue! Perhaps what they are doing is part of a bigger plan to unite, reunite, and renew our hearts and spirits with a kind of feeling that only comes once a year. Maybe mankind has gotten to a point where this is the only way we will truly figure out the meaning of Christmas in our own lives.
What if, instead of settling for this feeling only once a year, we decided to live every moment of every day in this light? As you wish those you love and those you don’t know a Merry Christmas, take a moment to reflect on the ultimate power your positive mood, emotions, and light have to change not just your own world, but the world around you. Because unequivocally, this is how we are intended to be!
Merry Christmas!
