And so this is Christmas....

What Christmas Means to me...

Alright maybe that is a little cheesy, after all I am not in elementry school am I? I just have a few thoughts on Christmas I would like to share.

I am almost 25 and it seems to me that Christmas just isn't what it used to be. Is it just me or is it totally marketed towards children and parents with children? There is this huge gap that I fall into and in this gap it feels like Christmas has lost its zing. I don't get up early to open presents anymore, and it seems like half the time you just can't wait to get Christmas over with because of all the hussle and bussle of it. Not to mention I can't even imagine having to cook a big turkey dinner for my cats let alone a house full of relatives! I want so bad to give out thoughtful gifts and not only can I not afford to I can't seem to get into it and get creative. It really isn't that much of a chore to send out some cards either is it - yet I got as far as buying the stamps and that's about it!

Christmas has become more of a stress in our lives than a joy. So what is the point of all this craziness at this time of year... what fulfillment can anyone get out of Christmas when it has stopped being... well FUN?

Do you ever stop to think 'What is the point of Christmas? What is it all about?' Ha funny, we hardly can make time to figure out what we like to do for fun so I could believe many never stop to think about the meaning of christmas! Although this year like every year I struggle to get in the mood, get the gifts I want to get for people, get the tree up, get cards out etc, this year I have stopped to think about what it means to me.

As a religious woman, for so long I wondered why does everybody celebrate Christmas when they haven't got the slightest clue as to what it is about. And why do we put up a tree and lights and give gifts and believe in Santa Claus? I have given up on those questions because I figure at some point in ones life, one will come to hear the story of Christmas. For me it is the meaning behind the biblical story that matters - and I see that meaning shine through almost everyone who celebrates Christmas.

The Lord sent his only son to this earth. He sent him as a gift, so that we could know of God's love and so that Jesus could die for our sins. Humanity was given a precious present - the most valuable gift of all. Our Lord showed his love for us by sending a man who's life would change the world forever. We celebrate Christmas to remember the story of his birth.

An Angel Gabriel came down from the heavens to tell Mary that although she was a virgin she would be giving birth to a baby boy sent from the Holy Spirit. This baby boy was the son of God and was to be named Immanuel 'God with us' also known as Jesus.

Nine months later, Mary travelled to the town of Bethleham, in the land of Judah, on a donkey to give birth to this little miracle. There was not enough room at the inn for Mary so the innkeeper put her up in a stable in which Mary could have her baby. That night a bright star shone bright above Bethleham which served as a sign for the wisemen to find them. They came and presented the baby with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The shepards in fields nearby were visited by an angel who told them of the Lords birth. The shepards went to the stable where they found this baby boy that the angel spoke of. They spread the word across the land about this baby boy named Jesus Christ.

This is the story from which the celebration of Christmas came from. For me the meaning behind the birth of Christ has everything to do with giving, recieving and sharing. In the same way that the Lord sent us this little boy as our Messiah and Saviour of our sins, we give gifts to those we love and even those we do not know very well.

At Christmas we find small ways to let the people in our lives know that we care about them and we are there for them. Usually we spend time picking out gifts for our friends and families, but often we extend these gestures to others we don't know so well, much like the wisemen did when they travelled so far to bring a small baby such fabulous gifts. For example, the mailman, our childrens teacher, an employee or boss and many of us even extend our love to those who are in need. The community comes together to buy gifts for children who's parents can not provide them, and turkey dinners for families who otherwise would do without, more volunteers come out to help with homeless sheltars and clothing those who do not have anything at all. Christmas is a time of giving, a time of selflessness and a time of gratefulness that God sent a son to save us from ourselves.

Along with giving, recieving is a huge part of Christmas. There is a great feeling about not expecting anything from anyone and then recieving something anyways! In those moments when you are unwrapping a present - it doesn't really matter what it is that you get. It is about knowing that you are loved and cared about and someone took the time to put thought into you. Having the opportunity to express appriciation for someone thinking of you is extreamly valuable. The shepards and wisemen came to worship Jesus and to thank God for sending them such an amazing gift.

Lastly Christmas is a time of sharing, and sharing of time. No matter how hectic Christmas gets and the craziness that goes on in order to get ready for it, there is always a time of peace when we get to sit back and share ourselves with our family and friends. We share our happiness, we share our gifts and we share our time together. Perhaps this is the most important part of Christmas; making time for each other. It is both giving and recieving ourselves with people we love. Do you remember the nativity scene? The one with everything I have described above? Mary, Joseph, the wisemen, shepards and angels in a little stable with a bright star above it? It was a stable full of love; people who had come together to spend time worshipping a baby lying in a manger of hay who was a gift from our Lord.

And so over time different traditions have come about in which we celebrate Christmas. We put up a tree and decorate it, put lights up on our houses, sing carols, bake goodies, help the needy, go to church, open advent calanders, cook turkey's and take time off work! All so we can give and recieve gifts just as it happened in that little town of Bethlehem, and so we can make time to spend with people who we love and who love us.