CHRISTmas

I hate feeling like it isn't even Christmas. I have been so overconsumed with finals that I haven't really given Christmas a whole lot of thought.
I hate that as you get older, Christmas loses its charm. There isn't that "magical" feeling in the air that makes you stay up all night in excitement waiting for a chance to hear Santa's sleigh.
I hate that people tend to be grumpier. It's supposed to be a season for caring and giving, but so many people are selfish and pushy and self consumed.
I hate that Christmas is so commercialized. Santa this, Santa that. If anyone took the time to spell CHRISTmas, I'm sure they would figure out what Christmas is really all about.

on the other hand...

I love that I better understand the importance of Christmas now that I'm older. It never was about presents or Santa, but about the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
I love the feeling I get when I GIVE. As a child (and sometimes as a teen) there is never and opportunity to get things for others. It makes you feel better about getting when you have been giving.
I love that feeling of brotherly love that I feel. It makes me happy when I see others take the time to show love for complete strangers when they don't have to and no one really expects them to.
I love Christmas songs. Not the tacky ones like "Santa Clause is coming to town", but "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and "Oh Holy Night". It fills me with the spirit and makes me greatful for the birth and life of my Savior.


As I was driving the other day I had an epiphany. It seems strange that I just barely figured this out, but it was good for me. I have been struggling to find a way to make it feel more like Christmas. Although getting presents for others makes it feel like "x-mas", it's only temporary. I want to feel the real spirit of Christmas. So anyway, as I was driving on the very congested freeway, we began merging into one lane. We have all been in this situation. Usually the rule is you let one car in then it's your turn and the car behind you lets one car in and then it's their turn, right? Well this truck behind me let three cars in before he took his turn. I could have thought "oh that was nice" and been on my merry way, but I thought about how that act of kindness showed love for his fellow men, which is the true spirit of CHRISTmas. Doing things for others, and not just normal nice things you would do everyday, brings the spirit into your life. When the spirit is in your life, you become more like Christ and that is what this time of year is about. Remembering the birth, life and spirit of Christ and becoming like him. My wish is that we can take that spirit and make it apart of the rest of our lives and not only let it affect us at CHRISTmas time.

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for reading my not-so-meaningless rant