The True Meaning of Christmas

Pin It When I looked out my window the other morning, I was greeted with a dusting of snow, glittering like slivers of diamond cuttings...and the world seemed new yet again.


Ah, snow.

You know, it seems that it happens every year...I make a steaming cup of hot chocolate and get comfortable on my Love Sac, each time Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer shows on TV. When I hear the familiar sound of Burl Ives’ voice floating about the house I feel it, it is evidenced in the lights that festoon neighborhood where every tree becomes a light show and every bush is a candelabra draped in purest white.

What is it about this time of year that brings this sudden euphoria and feeling of giving and love? It is because we hear the radio stations jammed with Christmas songs? Is it from the distinct feel of giving around us as evident the newly fallen snow? What is it that makes us all a little more patient and a little more forgiving of each others’ mistakes and shortcomings?

I firmly believe that this sense of joy does not come from presents, it doesn’t come from the snow, or even the music. Yes, each of these may attribute to the real reason, but in essence I believe that Christmas comes from the feeling we feel deep inside our hearts. It is the love of family, the remembrance of those whom have come in - and perhaps out of - our lives but who have made a distinct mark, one that helped to shape us into the individuals which we are - and the type we have yet to become.

I believe that it was Dr. Suess who summed it up best with his character, the old Grinch, who came to a sudden realization that Christmas was much more than the things we buy. In Dr. Suess’ own words:


“It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
“It came without packages, boxes or bags!”
And he puzzled three hours, ‘till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.”
“Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!”

The gifts we give to each other are simple expressions of love we have for those around us, a mirroring of the greatest gift that one gave to each of us, which came on a quiet night when only the shepherds watched. This is the real meaning of Christmas.

May this remembrance remain always in our hearts and minds; helping us to all be a little more patient, a little more caring, and all willing to give a little more love to our fellow man.

I decided to include a little playlist to help you to get into the Christmas spirit - that is if you're not already there - it's also on the sidebar. It starts off pretty mellow, picks up in the middle, and then is mostly just fun, kid-type Christmas songs at the end. I'd have to say that the very last one is a new favorite. If you'd like the code so you could add this playlist to your own site, send me an email and I'll get it to you.