Although the Christmas season had a slow start for me this year, it has turned out to be a lovely time nonetheless. It was difficult to get into the spirit especially without a tree; there’s something magical about sitting in the glow of the Christmas tree lights that hearkens back to the innocence and wonder we often don’t allow ourselves as adults. It was when the giving began that the spirit of Christmas returned for me.
“Acts 20:35 (from the New International Version) “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” I believe this is a lesson that one has to “re-learn” almost every year if not more often. Perhaps our selfish human nature gets in the way of living out this blessing on a regular basis.
This Christmas season, my favorite gift that I gave, or at least unselfish act, was when a group from our church went to sing Christmas carols at our local mall. I do enjoy singing, but standing in the middle of a food court with people I don’t know very well, singing songs I only sing once a year was not my idea of a great time. I was so wrong. Several couples, especially older ones, would stop and sing along with us with big smiles on their faces. Little children would dance and spin in front of our group, twirling in the happiness and reverie of childhood. It was a wonderful experience and brought the meaning of Christmas back into focus.