So, it's less than a week to Christmas. So soon, right? Maybe not the same feeling for all. Allow me however to say to you, compliments of the season. Yes, we're in the Christmas season and it smells closer already. Soon, the frying and slaughtering will begin. The jingle bells are already ringing. With all that, we know that one of the most adored and celebrated seasons of the calendar year is here.
One thing synonymous with a season like this is celebration. Of course, it's meant to be a period of celebration. Just like a child is born and the family puts up a celebration, with family members and well-wishers celebrating with them, we're celebrating a birth as well. The most popular and historic birth in history; the birth of Jesus Christ. It's a joyous period, and so celebrations invariably take place, around the world.
While it's good, and perhaps necessary to celebrate this birth of the saviour of the world who came to redeem humanity to God, it's also important－more important－to understand the reason for the season. That's where it's perceived wrongly, even among the Christian faithful. Most times, we make it about the season, with little or no consideration for the reason. In the minds of many, there are already overwhelming thoughts of what clothes to buy, animals to slaughter, places to go and celebrations to hold.
Don't get it twisted, it isn't bad to do all of that. Where the issue is, is when the celebrant of this great day and season is ignored and not factored into all of that. Or perhaps into just a fragment of it. So then, what does Christmas mean? What is the meaning of Christmas? It isn't much to wrap around. Christmas is about the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. But that's not enough, or all that Christmas entails.
I see it as a time to show that love which Christ preached through His life and words. Do something for someone, whom you know or know not. Christmas should capture a selfless love and desire for others. It should be a platform to reflect Jesus Christ and what He stood for. On the contrary, we see a culture where the season and celebration are all about oneself, and not even the celebrant, let alone others. It should be about love for others as much as ourselves.
Christmas calls for a period of reflection as well. I consider it a time to sit, look oneself in the mirror, look deep within and make a personal reflection of one's life, with Jesus Christ as the reference point. His birth was a monumental victorious effort towards salvation, and so, living life should be for Him. So, at a time like this, it should be one of the things one should find themself doing.
There's more to the birth of Christ than the meat and rice to eat or the clothes to wear or the hangout/celebration/get-together to hold or attend. Yes, it's about the celebration of a birth; a great and historic one. When it's seen this way, then it would be understood that Christmas goes beyond a season, but stands through every season. Nevertheless, by all good and available means, celebrate it. Give gifts. Maybe hope for one from Santa too. You never can tell. Chuckles!
Images are mine.
