What is Christmas "really" about???

I have been challenged in recent weeks with the thought of what the Christmas season is “really” about. Many times I hear (and have stated myself) that this season is not about the gifts, or the lights, or the trees, or the festivities, or the food, or the cataclysmic amount of spending that must take place... (Deep breath) So then I find myself asking... "Why in the world do we do all this stuff anyway? Especially if none of it pertains to the real meaning of Christmas?" Don't worry, I haven't lost my mind...and I am not on a quest to erase all of the aforementioned activities :-) During this time of year I do notice more folks holding the doors for others, people greeting you with a smile, families coming together, and good will being spread throughout the community. So what if we could tap into this behavior all year long? When you walk into a leading department store on December 26^th...there is not even the hint of Christmas(aside from the mile-long line of people returning the gifts that don't fit.) So then at least in some small measure perhaps all of the lights, bulbs, gifts, and merriment do serve a purpose. We know the season is not "really" about those things, and yet having them does engender a more unselfish response in society. What if we all tried to simply continue selfless and random acts of kindness all year long? In my opinion living an unselfish life in service to others really does capture what it’s all about. So keep the lights, don’t put Frosty under a heat lamp, please continue to bake the pumpkin pies… but when it’s all over on the 26^th… continue to Give… That season should never end!

 

CL~