What Christmas Means to Me

I wrote a poem about Christmas awhile back that summed up a lot of how I feel about Christmas and what it means to me. If you'd rather just check that out instead of reading the longer version, you can check it out here:

Otherwise, keep reading this article to get more of the picture. Or, you can always read both!

To me, Christmas represents a time of the year when people come together. There's just a feeling in the air, not only on Christmas Day, but the few days before and after. It feels like people show more care, respect, and appreciation for others than any other time of the year (unless you get stuck in line at a shopping mall, in which case, there is nothing positive of the sort going on). Imagine if that kind of kindness and patience were shown every day of the year - how different would this world be?! It's not just believers in God and of Santa and of Christmas that display this change in behavior, either. It's pretty much everyone in this particular country.

In some ways, I rejoice for this time of year because it does seem to bring out the best in everybody. In other ways, it's a bit depressing that people can only act like this one time every year. It seems like a magical thing to have many people giving thanks, saying prayers, and believing in something greater than themselves for at least one day. But again, why doesn't that happen more often?

Anyway, sorry for the bleak outlook on our holiday season, but I have to be honest about how I feel. On to the happy parts. To me, Christmas means a time when, no matter what, I will be eternally grateful for my life and everyone who is a part of it. I generally spend Christmas either with my own family or my husband's family. It's wonderful either way, but of course, I wish we could all be together all the time.

If I had one wish for how I could spend each Christmas, I wish I were rich enough to afford to fly our entire families and friends to one location to spend the time together. And if I had that much money, I'd have enough left over to not just donate to one charity, but many.

I have many funny and terrific memories of Christmas. I have fond memories of watching Christmas Vacation with my family, laughing over and over at the stupid jokes. I have other memories with my family that aren't quite as cheerful, like being starved on our journeys to Missouri to meet my grandparents. Back then, gas stations were not open for 24 hours and they were rarely open on any holiday. On the rare occasion that the gas station was open, it might have been better if it wasn't, because the only thing to eat was a day old sandwich that seemed to be made out of cardboard and glue.

Some of my fondest memories are of putting up the Christmas tree with my parents, buying a new Christmas ornament or ornaments each year with my husband (one of the few traditions we have started), and singing the Hallelujah Chorus in an attempted four part harmony with my husband's family. Of course, there are many other things to be thankful for, but for me, as long as they are surrounded by family, food, and love, I'm good to go.