This year is the first year I have noticed the cynicism and complaints associated with Christmas. Looking back on years past, I see it. I chose not to notice it before because I love Christmas so much that I didn't want to let others get me down or impose their scrooge attitude on me. I thought people said those things and acted that way because they were having a bad day. Now, especially today, I am seeing that a good number of people really don't like the Christmas season.
So far this year I have heard people say I hate the snow, I hate shopping, I hate trying to buy gifts for people, I hate decorating, I wish people wouldn't listen to Christmas music until December. Even then, when it is played in December, I still hear people saying that they can't wait until Christmas is over and they don't have to hear anymore Christmas songs.
Let me say that I can understand, not agree, but I understand where people are coming from when they say I hate the snow and I hate shopping. There are a lot of stupid, annoying, and very greedy people that you come across while shopping during the holidays, that does get bothersome after a while, I agree. I choose to blow those people off and enjoy my shopping experiences. I LOVE shopping, especially during the holidays.
The snow, I understand why people dislike it. It's cold, some people really hate the cold and just can't seem to get rid of the bite that comes with cold winter temperatures. Others hate how hard it is to drive in, that I do agree with but I still find it adventurous at the same time and don't mind to much. Others hate shoveling it off of their driveways, walkways, and sidewalks. I love the snow. I don't go for drives just for fun like my husband does, but I don't mind shoveling (unless I am six, seven, eight, or nine months pregnant) and I don't mind the cold. When I see it snow and see my world covered in white, it brings such a clam, quiet, peaceful feeling to me which is a great feeling to have during the Christmas season. In the world today, you are hard pressed to find a calm, quiet atmosphere like the one that comes with a few inches of snow and a Christmas tree in the corner. The snow keeps people in their houses, snuggled up keeping warm and spending time with their families. I think thats wonderful and enjoy it all winter long, not just on the first snow of the season.
One of my biggest annoyances when it comes to the holidays is people complaining about the Christmas music. I happen to love and adore Christmas music and don't mind listening to it at any point during the year. I don't throw in a Christmas album in May or August or anything but if it is in my playlist on my phone, typically I don't skip over it. People seem to hate it because they hear the same songs over and over again for weeks at a time. But if you are a church goer, think for a minute how many times you have heard church hymns. Do you hear We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet or The Spirit of God (for those LDS readers) or any other frequently played/sung church and hymn and think "oh my gosh! Enough of this song, I have heard it so many times!" In my experience, no. In fact it is quite the opposite. Many people are touched, even brought to tears when they hear certain church hymns because they listen to the words in the song and the meaning in them. So the next time you hear Christmas music and get annoyed, why don't you stop and listen to the words since a good amount of the Christmas songs are about our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, who without, we would all be lost.
Now for the gifts. For a good number of people Christmas is the time when you allow yourself to splurge on the latest, greatest, most expensive, and your most coveted item of the year. I'm not saying that is a bad thing, unless thats all Christmas is to you. In that case, you really need to get yourself a bible or dust off the one sitting right over there on your shelf behind your elf. It's also the time when most children and adults alike are saying I wonder what I'm getting for Christmas, what is in that box, I hope I got what was on my list. Think about it, how many times have you seen "the season of receiving"? In my lifetime, none. On the flip side you see and hear the quote "the season of giving" quite often through the holiday season. When the Three Wise Men gave Jesus their gifts, I doubt they were thinking, "yo, Jesus, where is my present, I just gave you gold, come on man!"They also weren't told to, they didn't feel obligated to give those gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They gave them because upon being in the presence of Christ, they realized, felt and knew that he, Jesus Christ, was truly the Son of God, the King of Kings, the Prince of peace, the mighty God. They felt inspired to give these things to their Savior, whom without they could never be saved.
I don't truly know what was going through the Wise Mens heads when they bowed down to worship our Lord, but I can imagine the feeling and overwhelming spirit that was present there that night. How truly amazing that must have been and I doubt the thoughts of the Wise Men were ones of selfishness.
This is a season to love and think of others and remember the selflessness of our Savior. We do that through giving gifts and service to those we love and care about and often that meaning gets lost in the season. It makes me sad to hear people say they hate giving gifts and hate buying people presents, hate serving at shelters or donating food and clothing, or when they say thats just not who I am. Exactly!!! It't not about you! It's about the people in your life, showing love and giving service to those in your life wether you know them or not.
If you are one of those people mentioned above, then this season try not to think about what you want and how much you hate putting effort into something for someone else. Instead think about what you can do or give to someone else and how much that would mean to them. Even if you don't buy the best and greatest gifts, MOST people are grateful and will love that you simply thought of them. If they aren't grateful or act like Scrooge, then send them the link to this blog post.
I buy my family presents every year and it is so fun and exciting for me, not just because I love to shop but because I get to see them Christmas morning when they open their gifts and I see the joy and happiness on their faces. That means the world to me, to see my husband and children happy, thats what I always wish for them, is happiness in their lives.
This season instead of thinking that shopping or doing service is an obligation or an annoyance, try thinking about how happy those you are buying for and serving will be when YOU hand them a gift or do something special for them and say Merry Christmas.
This year I am trying very hard to teach my children about the true meaning of Christmas by reading the story of the birth of Christ to them a little each night. I want my children to know that its not just about getting presents but also about giving and thinking of others and especially thinking of Christ, our Lord.
Remember Christ in Christmas this year and think about what you can do for other people instead of dismissing the season as and obligation or bother.
