The Spirit of Christmas

Just the word Christmas can warm your heart and put a smile on your face. For some it is a time of year that they have come to dread. It is the loneliest time of year for many, and a joyous time for many more. But the true meaning of Christmas is not about what lies under the Christmas tree or even the fact if you have one or not, it is what is in your heart.
Sure Christmas would be better with a ton of presents under the tree and if Tommy and Suzie received everything they wanted from Santa, but it means so much more than that. The season is about the spirit of giving. It is about rejoicing, rejoicing in life and being thankful. It is to celebrate the birth of Christ.
The bright lights and the decorated Christmas trees help to get you in the festive mood. Children put on Christmas plays and sing classic Christmas carols of old. All of this warms your heart and makes you feel so blessed to have experienced it.
But Christmas is not about Christmas day, no, no my friend. Christmas is about every day. It is a feeling that should never go away, not even for a second. It is much more than family and friends, it is deeper than that. It is about reaching out to strangers and wishing them well, and helping them however you can. It may be a meal, a hug, an ear to listen, or simply helping them in some way. That is the spirit of Christmas.
By no means is Christmas an excuse, you can’t help someone during the Christmas season and walk away the rest of the year thinking that you did your part. Life doesn’t work that way. We all know that life changes in the blink of an eye. People don’t just have needs at Christmas. And if the less fortunate find their situation changes for the better, it is an excellent opportunity to show their appreciation by giving to someone else. After all, they have walked in their shoes.
So there you have it. Christmas is a time of year when our souls are brought together to make things better for all mankind. May the food you eat nourish you. May the souls you come in contact with always lift your spirits. And may you always remember how blessed and how special you truly are.
I wish you a very Merry Christmas today, and always.