Walking around the metro shopping centre this weekend you would think that some catastrophe was about to hit, not that Christmas is around the corner. Maybe it’s the crowds of people that were stressing some out, perhaps the pressures of buying the right presents, or the amounts racking up on the credit cards. Everywhere I looked people seemed so stressed, so unhappy, that they are truly missing out on the magic of Christmas spirit.
I was walking around buying the presents I needed while taking in the beautiful decorations, Christmas lights and listening to the choirs singing their wonderful carols. Each time I made a purchase I thought of the joy and happiness the recipient of the present would feel, and felt happy with anticipation.
Too many people are losing the real joy of Christmas because they are hurrying and scurrying to get everything done preceding the special day. They forego the true Christmas spirit trying to hard to make everything perfect.
I also fear many are losing the real meaning of Christmas? Although we all love the gifts under the tree, the lights in the windows, the cards on our mantelpiece, stockings hanging in the living room, turkey dinners and all the snacks which last all day long, this isn’t what Christmas is about.
I feel that the beauty of this day is the opportunity to show your love and affection to friends and family. It should be a time of healing and renewed strength. You see, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of the Christ child. God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be born. His birth brought great joy to the world. Shepherds, wise men, and angels all shared in the excitement of knowing about this great event. Families across the world share their love, through presents that have been chosen with great care and deliberation, and no doubts in many cases bringing financial hardships to themselves by doing this. Yet we all long to feel this special Christmas Spirit one day every year. That’s how special it is to us.
I know on Christmas day I will get no rest, but I will enjoy the opportunity of presenting each one of my loved ones with a present and having the chance to see them no matter how briefly, will always be special to me. To be healthy and alive, able to be with my family on this day is always so exciting to me, even though its different than when they of course lived under my roof. But never do I plan to not see them on this day no matter where life has taken me in the future.
Thinking ahead of my 100 mile round journey on Christmas day, first thing in the morning, holds no dread only excitement. To be able to see my granddaughter opening her presents on this special day will be purely magical. Sharing the enjoyment of this moment with her mum and dad will be very emotional for me. Then to see both my daughters and swap presents with them is what this day is all about, getting time with them makes this everything to me. Then there’s time to see my dad and sister to give them their Christmas kiss and present, and off to the hospital to be at the bedside of my mum and wish her a happy Christmas. This will be amazing considering 6 weeks ago it was unlikely she’d be here. So much to get in on one morning it will certainly be action packed.
Then it’s back to home for 2, and now it is our turn to share with Rachel’s family our Christmas spirit. Liam, her son, never away before on Christmas morning will come home to her, and the festivities can start all over again.
Through the door will come her mum and dad, maybe even her brothers and sister, meaning that every one special in our families will get time to be with each other. This is what I think is the magic of Christmas. My day will be fuelled by the Christmas spirit not turkey and all the trimmings.
It’s not stuffing so much food down into our tummies that we have to vegetate on a couch for the rest of the evening, so stuffed and bloated from what we’ve eaten, yet forcing another mince pie inside of us. Nor do I think watching TV all evening is a Christmas treat. It’s the conversations, the joy of being with those we love.
We each need to be grateful that we are here to be able to see those we love. My heart goes out to those who this year will have an empty space at their table, but worst still in their life.
Please have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy the festivities with all the Christmas cheer you can muster, bring the best of the Christmas spirit to your magical day.
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