Christmas

Tis the season! The long awaited Christmas day has finally come! Children went to bed with excited dreams about St. Nick and butterflies in their stomach, waiting for the morning when their tree would have mounds of presents underneath waiting to be opened. They sent their lists to the the North Pole, made cookies for Santa and his reindeer, and watched Elf on TV. Their young minds are too naive to realize that their mom and Santa have the same handwriting, wrapping paper, and gift ideas, and they are caught up in the magical world of Christmas. The word alone carries memories of joy, happiness, and love. One can't say it and not get the jitters. However, as we grow, we find our views on Christmas to change. The butterflies don't seem to come anymore on Christmas Eve. We don't find it mandatory to leave the cookies out. We seem to forget the traditions of the past and carry on with our normal lives until Christmas morning. Of course, on the day of we have family and friends over, and the meaning of Christmas seems to appear, but when the presents are unwrapped, and the food is eaten, the spirit seems to die off so quickly. I'm not intending this is a bad thing. We do not live in Christmas Town where people live in joy and peace year round. Our daily lives accept the period of happiness and then move on. It's normal. However, as I grow older, I start to realize the true meaning of Christmas. It's not really about Santa, presents, or even a religious aspect. As time went on, our society has evolved the idea that Christmas could simply be a time where all people, all religions, could come together and be happy with simply each others company. It's not about the color Ugg's you get, or style of Miss Me's. If that were the purpose, it could be like any other day. But no. Christmas is different. Christmas has a meaning. A meaning worth remembering. It's that even if you have no money for presents, no money for plastic decorations, you can still experience the joy created from spending time with family, because that is priceless.