Christmas Spirit

Sometimes, during the Christmas season, it is easy to forget the story behind Christmas. Sometimes we get lost in the Christmas tree, the decorations, and the food. Often we are so worried about what gifts we will receive that we forget the real gift that was given at Christmas. And there's this warm feeling about all of it. Most people believe that the Christmas Spirit is food, decorations, fire, and getting gifts. But what is the Christmas Spirit actually about?

I assume you agree with me that the Christmas Spirit is happiness, a warm, sweet feeling. So what gives you that feeling? Is it snow sparkling? Well, snow sparkles in January and I don’t feel the Christmas Spirit then. Decoration? We decorate for Thanksgiving, and I don’t exactly feel the Christmas Spirit then, although it is a fun time with family. Family? Well, that is certainly part of it, too, but if you see your family other times, as I do, then you will realize that they do not complete the Christmas Spirit (they do help create it, though). Getting gifts? Well, you may think so, but if you get gifts for your birthday or any other time, you won’t feel the Christmas Spirit then. No, none of the things listed above make the Christmas Spirit.

What is the Christmas Spirit, then, if it’s not all the other things? What gives us happiness? I could go through all the clues, and everything, but let me just tell you. The Christmas Spirit is giving. Some people don’t agree with me and think that just can’t be it. That is because they don’t give, but THINK they still feel the Christmas Spirit. They think they do, but they haven’t felt the full, lovely, happy feeling in their hearts. You can only get that through giving.

Let me give you an example. My favorite Christmas, so far, is the year when we didn’t get as many presents as usual, because we sacrificed them to give bikes to a family who had lost two homes in a fire, and didn’t have any bikes anymore. Now, this year, we are going to Timor Leste, a country above Australia, instead of celebrating Christmas with our family. We will do an evangelistic series there. Although we won’t see sparkling snow, probably won’t see the usual decoration, won’t have the usual food, won’t see our family, and won’t get gifts, we’ll still have the Christmas Spirit is because the Christmas Spirit is giving.

~Alice