The Meaning of Christmas

The holiday season stirs up a full spectrum of emotions. It's supposed to be a time of joy and peace, like what we wish for others in our Christmas cards. But, let's be real. It can bring about a healthy dose of stress. In fact, I have heard this time of year aptly named "Stressmas" as a result of crazier traffic on the roads, longer lineups at checkouts, and snooty customers grabbing the last sweater in your size without even a glimmer of guilt in their eyes! Where is the spirit of the season? On top of that, you have the never-ending-to-do lists, kids getting restless at home (does anyone really want to build a snowman?), and family visits where you are subject to criticism and judgement for not having an appropriate centrepiece and serving dry turkey.

Is there any way to not get frazzled and make this time of year the hap-happiest season of all?! Some would say that it is the holiday where everything has to be perfect. We put in so much effort to keep the magic alive. If you have kids, you are playing off of their energy and excitement to see Santa or the Elf (for 24 days in a row!). But, what is this season really all about? Aside from Linus Van Pelt's touching quote of scripture, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11), I often find myself searching for more meaningful answer to this question. I look forward to activities to help me to get into the "spirit." But, after all is said and done, I often feel that it was not enough. Not a feeling of longing or wanting more, but a desire to do it right and know that there was a good balance of holiday festivities and family traditions. Because, after the expectations of Christmas are met and the presents are all opened, should you feel exhausted and unfulfilled? I just feel like going for a long nap - wake me by March 17th! Is there anyone out there who has pulled off a perfect Christmas and not felt drained from all the effort you had to put on to get it? I'm just saying that maybe there is also joy in just half-assing it!

When we remember what Christmas was like, as children, what memories come to mind? I remember sitting in the hallway at school while my Grade 6 teacher played the piano and all the classes sang carols. I feel like my son's favorite memory might be Elf on the Shelf. But, what can we do for our kids that have the most impact yet take the least amount of work? Because, in the end, we just don't have enough time in the day to make Christmas perfect anymore.

I can accept the things that I can't control, like snow for Christmas. However, mom guilt kicks in when a child complains that they are not having a very good Christmas. Besides watching Christmas movies (in my son's case, Christmas horror!) and baking cookies, what else can we do to make this time of year special and magical, the way it was when we were kids? Happiness is fleeting. We may experience contentment during a moment of sipping a hot cocoa at an ice rink and then fear or discomfort when the health, safety, or enjoyment of our children take priority over our own emotions.

Here's my point: take joy as it comes. Maybe peace is a figment of our imaginations, but at least we can remember to experience the small, magical opportunities of the season. Without recognizing that our kids will never be this young again, or perhaps, even this innocent again, we are missing the point. We can give them the opportunities for memories but we can't make them remember this moment! But, we can rememeber...and hopefully, remind them of the time that Santa asked if you like to read.

Christmas is a special time and this holiday is about showing our love. As I have told my son, it is a time for family, sharing, and caring. We spend time with our family because we love them. As the new year approaches, take the time to appreciate all that you've done to make magical memories for others. All the small and seemingly insignificant moments in your past have led you to right here. This moment is yours to keep. It is yours to treasure. Embrace it and don't forget to store it in your memory bank. Merry Christmas 🎄!