What do we celebrate Christmas for?

As Christmas approaches, my paychecks are almost spent, I spend my days searching for the elusive gifts that each of my children wants for Christmas. Of course I don’t want to be called Scrooge, so I search and search for each and every present. My children have written on their lists. Yet I wonder as I walk through the door of yet another toy store if I’ve forgotten what we’re celebrating for. I mean, isn’t this season supposed to be full of happiness and joy? Every year I hear that the suicide rate has increased along with depression. The day after Thanksgiving one person was even trampled to death. Do any of us know why we are celebrating Christmas?

As I sit here and write this article, I know why I want to celebrate. I want to celebrate the birth of Christ my Lord. They asked me why I wanted to celebrate his birth once, when it should have been his death that we celebrated. The man who had asked me said, it is through his death that we are saved. Yes, it is because he died on the cross for you and me, but I just have one question. If he had not been born, could he have died for our sins?

I guess I have more questions than just that. As I write I think of all the lives of the people he touched and saved while here on earth, he was a role model to many, how could we not celebrate his birth and life here on earth along with his death? “God sent his only begotten son so that everyone who believes in him will not have a parish but eternal life.” I think a lot of us have forgotten why we really celebrate Christmas, and it’s much more commercialized than this or any other holiday should be, but I also think it should be celebrated alongside his death and his rebirth in heaven. Because it was through his life that we learned the true meaning of unconditional love. We learned through his birth, life and death that death is not the end, it is only the beginning.

For me, after writing this article, I know I will care less about hunting for those elusive gifts and more about the time I spend with my kids, from this day on. On Christmas Eve I think I will start a new tradition, I am going to teach my children the true meaning of Christmas and I will tell them their story, so that they do not forget it like so many of us. I also believe that I will work to find new ways to share your joy, love and kindness for my fellow man during the new year. After all, that’s what life is all about, not a new toy that gets thrown away in a week. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas to all and a great year to all!