The Meaning of Christmas

It was that time of year again. Everyone was shopping, trying to find the perfect gift for his or her loved ones (or at least something that will do for the relatives). Businesses were having sales. "Buy one get one free/half off", "Marked down by (fill in the blank)%", and all that jazz. TV networks are showing their usual collection of tearjerkers and heart-warming fuzz from Christmases past.

Amidst all this stood I, trying to make Christmas special from my family, but not really feeling "the Christmas Spirit." I come from a Christian background and I know what Christmas should mean.Or at least I thought I did. But this year, the supposed meaning fell flat, leaving me frustrated that the most special time of the year wasn't.

On Christmas Eve, the meaninglessness overwhelmed me and I began to lash out at my family silently, brooding and sulking, wishing they would go away. Finally, after a scrumptious Christmas Eve Dinner, hosted by the camp where I work and during which I sulked more, I went alone to the Christmas Eve service.

During the traditional Communion, the speaker asked that each person share something the Lord had done after he or she had received the bread and wine (which was, as usual, really grape juice). Then he prayed over us. During the prayer, I reflected on what Jesus had done for me this last year. He provided me friends, saw me through my senior year of high school and my first semester of college, allowed me to go to Romania, and showed my father a way to pay for my college tuition.

Finally it dawned on me: the meaning of Christmas is not limited to the manger scene or the gifts under the tree. Christmas is really a time of reflection. We reflect on the gifts God has given us, both the gifts he gave us through Christ, and the gifts he has given us in our lives, such as friendship and love.

It isn't enough for Christmas to be a time of joy and giving. Those are parts of Christmas, yes. But the gifts we give others are but a symbol of the gifts God gave us, and the joy we feel overflows from the joy we as Christians find in Christ.

This is the meaning of Christmas. And this is a fact, not an emotion, not a feeling that comes and goes, depending on one's mood. The meaning of Christmas must be a fact or else it can change like the shifting ocean tides.

Now, as a Christian, you'd expect that I'd know this as well as I know 2+2=4. But it's easy to lose focus. Christ is the reason for Christmas. I needed to realize that, not only in my head, but in my soul, my inmost being. Head-knowledge will get you only so far.

Remember Christ's gifts to you this season, as you spend time with your loved ones and enjoy the respite the holiday offers. Merry Christmas.

Holy is He and worthy to be praised.