That about sums up my feeling this year… “Happy Holidays”? No… It’s Merry Christmas thank you very much!
I admit that I am now an Easter, Christmas, Holy Day of
Obligation Catholic. I get it… I’m far
from the perfect Christian. That being said, I still understand the meaning of
CHRISTmas and what is important.
I was blessed at the tender age of 5 to understand
Christmas. As I’ve mentioned before my mother and I ran pretty through life as
a two person family for many years. It
made me who I am today. I learned a lot from my mother and I couldn’t imagine
my life being any other way.
One of the most important things I learned was what is
important about Christmas. A few weeks before Christmas I was sent to stay with
my maternal grandmother in a small town in west Texas. It was one of the
hardest times of my life even to this day. A 5 year-old child whose parents
were divorcing being sent away for the holidays. Even though it was hard, even
then, I knew it was necessary. A small sacrifice to make for a happier life.
I can remember the weeks prior to Christmas and all I
remember wanting was to see my Mother.
To just be able to have her hug me, hold me and sing me to sleep the
only way she could… slightly off key.
On Christmas Eve I remember saying my prayers and my
grandmother telling my cousins and me about baby Jesus. While that is the true
reason for Christmas I still wanted what was important about Christmas… my
mother.
To this day I still remember falling asleep in front of the
tree waiting for Santa, but deep down inside I hoped I’d find my mother under
that tree. That year Santa pulled through. My mother woke me up in the wee hours
of the morning to say “Merry Christmas”… not “Happy Holidays”. I had my mother
for Christmas! The only thing this 5 year old girl wanted. It was the best gift
ever.
Now that y’all know that about me I can jump on my soap box.
With all the ducks and gays and school shootings and credit card hackings we’re
all forgetting the true meaning of the Christmas season.
It’s not to buy an overwhelming amount of gifts or make the
biggest dinner or have the biggest tree. It’s about family and loved ones. It’s
about celebrating the birth of our sacrificial lamb. The lamb that will save us…
and the fact that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son and
that whoever believed in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. (That’s John 3:16. In case you didn’t know)
The true meaning of Christmas is about love and sacrifice.
Don’t get me wrong… the gifts are nice too. But when I give gifts I always give
them with the thought that we aren’t promised another Christmas. The fear and
love and anticipation and hope I had as a young girl has always been a part of
me at Christmas.
So as an adult my gifts represent a small financial
sacrifice, but most importantly it’s a symbol of love. A love, like God and
Jesus had for us. A love and sacrifice that I could probably never fully know
or act on. It’s a reminder of what Christmas is all about. The gift of
everlasting life. The gift of unconditional love.
So as I see news reports of people physically hurting other
people to get the next Playstation and tickle me Elmo and I see companies taking financial advantage of
people needing to keep up with the Jones’s
I can’t help but worry.
As a nation we have truly forgotten that Christmas is a
Christian holiday. The money being made and gifts that are given under the mask
of Christmas are ruining the true meaning. The true meaning was broken in a
Wal-Mart or Target isle somewhere...clean up isle 3.
As you read this I hope you’re reminded of what this season
is all about. It’s about love and sacrifice and family and everlasting life,
but most importantly it’s about Christ. Holiday didn’t die on the cross for us…Jesus
Christ did. As you give your gifts and eat your dinner don’t let the true
message of Christmas be lost.
Try to keep the heart of a 5 year old girl in mind. It’s not
the material things that are important. It’s love and family and sacrifice.
Merry Christmas to you all! May your day be filled with love
and family and remember the sacrifice that was made for us!
visit www.theavocadochronicles.com
visit www.theavocadochronicles.com
