We are forgetting the true reason to celebrate Christmas

Akilah Davis/Contributing Writer

As I’ve gotten older, my dynamic of the holiday season has changed. It went from enjoying the wild rush of early morning shopping with my mom, to just waiting until Christmas to see what gifts I had received, to doing the Christmas shopping myself. Only, as I’ve come to recognize my faith and spirituality more in my adulthood, it seems as if everyone around me is losing their own.

I don’t mean to make this sound all essay-like or cliche but people are forgetting. People are forgetting that love is the reason. Or, the supposed reason. God loved us and gave us his son. But we only love the gift exchange, forgetting the one true gift that was the cause.

Maybe I’m sour because I’m not a kid anymore, and I don’t wake up on Christmas morning knowing that I have my own personal bounty under the tree. But, as I’m getting older-and running low on money-I’m becoming more appreciative and I’m loving the season as a whole.

I love that I get to come home from school, a break after a stimulating semester; I love that I get to see my family, and decorate and watch Christmas movies with them; I love that I can wear my pajamas all day and even invest in some new ones; I love drinking hot chocolate, snuggling in my robe and making sweets with my little sister. I love church on that Sunday, and the Christmas plays, and wearing my nice new dresses and outfits.

Most of all, I love “Love,” and I love spreading and giving this love to as many people as possible, and thanking God everyday for giving me another day to live on this earth. My love filters the surrounding air and I carry this love, which makes me belt out Christmas carols spontaneously and makes me to be sure to bring at least two candy canes with me wherever I go.

It causes me to wish everyone a Merry Christmas two weeks before its actual date, and smile and walk with a bounce in my step. It fills me up, all of this love from “The Reason.” It feels like I’m the only one who truly loves “The Reason” for the season: the birth of Jesus Christ.

I asked my mom and little sister what they loved most about Christmas. My little sister said she loved family time and the gifts (of course) and then I remember why I made that promise to not ask her anything else. My mother, however said she loved to give and that she loved the intimacy and the fun with family and what not. But then I said, “Mom, what about the nativity?” and she said, “well yes, that too.”

It’s as if this “giving” is overshadowing the true reason for the season and while my mother feels like while it is being overshadowed in some households, it hasn’t been overshadowed in ours. However, she’s acted as if the birth of Christ and “giving” were equally important. My little sister, who has never bought someone else a present in her life, also said they were equally important.

But, if “giving” is “just as important” as the nativity, it will only be a matter of time until the true reason for the season is forgotten altogether.

H is for How long? As in, how long until Christ himself is completely written out of Christmas? I love genuine giving, don’t get me wrong and I love receiving, too. Only, I will never allow that to influence my morals or my values. Christ will always be my reason. I so solemnly swear.

 

DISCLAIMER:

The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of FIU Student Media Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.

 

Image retrieved from Flickr.

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