You know, I have a lot of fond memories of Christmas as a child.
Most of my memories involve Christmas morning, and unwrapping presents.
Being perfectly honest, I have to say that most of the presents that I have received over the years have been less than stellar. I was often the kid that got underwear or a really bad Christmas sweater in a package from a well-meaning relative.
But, I don't think I ever cared. Because to me there was always a joy of Christmas, of unwrapping gifts. There was an element of surprise to my life. If anything, my parents were amazingly good at creating the atmosphere of Christmas, the feeling that miracles could happen, and that once a year, a man came down our non-existent chimney and somehow granted all my Christmas wishes, usually without giving me what I actually wanted. Because to me, it wasn't about the presents I received, in which case I should probably be upset that my parents didn't understand the things I liked, but more that all of the things I received over the Christmas season were things that often surprised me. Sometimes I ended up liking that Christmas sweater, itchy wool and all. (Then again, sometimes I hid it under my bed, never to be seen again. Eh heh.)
To me, Christmas is about the element of surprise, of being surprised by the joy of things unexpected, event when things are seemingly dismal.
The beauty of the Christmas story, and the Christmas miracle, is that Jesus is the unluckiest baby who was ever born, but it's ok, because his birth story turns out to be a happy circumstance.
I mean, if you think about it, the whole story of Christmas is something off of Trailer Park Boys. His mom and dad can't even get a hotel for the night, so they're stuck giving birth outside. In a barn. I don't know about you, but I know what sort of things I say about people who give birth in barns in the middle of winter.
Christmas, as much as it has been commericalized, is a really special holiday. It's a time when people, now and then, remember what is important in their lives, and what it means to really give of themselves. Christmas is a great time for growth, as the days are short, and the nights are long. We have a lot to be thankful for because there are people around us who love us, and even if they're not near in longitude and latitude, they're often nearby in our hearts.
Rarely do you hear of a Christmas miracle that makes sense, that gives people a sense of joy and hope in their lives. But often it's really a Christmas miracle simply by having a family, or friends, or people who will celebrate their happiness, with us.
There's something special about that.
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