Christmas Spirit
It’s Christmas time, that season some anticipate with excitement and others with a bit of trepidation, especially this year. The pressure is on for all the heartwarming family gatherings: the big, beautiful evergreen decked with garlands and perfectly working lights, Grandpa carving the turkey, kids swiping candy canes and sneaking peeks into packages, snow drifting down outside, and a fire crackling in the fireplace with stockings hung with care. Does this ever happen at your place?
Our tree was wired to the wall and the dog always managed to snatch a bit of turkey before it made it to the table. Toys would break or freeze in the snow. My first Barbie, back in 1962, went outside with me, and one of her boobs sank in. I hid her for days, terrified I’d get in trouble for breaking her on day one, until it finally popped back out. All day long, it was, “Linda, show Aunt Whoever your new Barbie.” “She’s sleeping, needs a nap.” I was so relieved when she “woke up” and her boob returned to normal.
Grandpa was asleep in the corner (and no one dared change the TV channel), the freshly melted snow had turned to brown mud, the candy canes were long gone, and a spark from the fire had burned the stockings. Since none of us were good little kids, the stockings were filled with coal, which burned for a while and warmed the house after the furnace quit at 2 a.m., right when Santa came down the chimney. My house—and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
The point of all this reminiscing is that Christmas is a spirit. It’s not a gift, a Hallmark movie, a commercial, or even a trip home—it’s the spirit you share. It’s the one day of the year when it’s frowned upon to be sad, mean, selfish, or overly concerned with being right. It’s a season to celebrate the joy and miracle of life, the gift we’re given simply by being born, the love we share with others, and the gift of our King, Jesus Christ. Whether you spend Christmas Day alone or surrounded by people, the true essence of Christmas lives inside you to give and receive. What you choose to offer or accept is entirely up to you.
One Christmas, I chose to spend the day alone, and it turned out to be wonderful. I held my baby, watched the snow fall, and reflected on love, true friendship, the richness of my life, the opportunities I’d been given, and the support I’d received. I wasn’t being a Scrooge—I did have plans that day—but have you ever tried traveling on Christmas with a baby in a snowstorm? My 10-month-old didn’t know it was Christmas; spaghetti worked for me, and staying home with Mama worked perfectly for him.
I am a Christian who prays to Jesus, and this is the time of year when we celebrate His birth. I have always believed the star was the spirit guiding us all, appearing each year to remind us of the birth of our King and our duty to serve Him with love, hope, and faith. Love is an action, and Jesus shows me that. The Christmas spirit is a gift for everyone, and we accept it so we can both give and receive.
Today is the winter solstice, a holiday I look forward to every year—the shortest day, signaling that brighter, longer days are on the way.
"The winter solstice celebrates the longest hours of darkness or the rebirth of the sun and is believed to hold a powerful energy for regeneration, renewal and self-reflection. In Pagan times the winter solstice was referred to as Yule and was a celebration of the Goddess (Moon) energy."
After exploring both Christian and Pagan traditions, I’d like to share the spirit of the season and wish you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, a thoughtful Winter Solstice, and a Happy New Year. Much love to everyone.