In Sunday School I heard a lot of positive uplifting comments about people's love for Christmas. But many people felt Christmas had gotten to materialistic and that to many people focused on the secular parts of Christmas instead of the spiritual. Here's the thing, Christmas has a lot of traditions that started with other cultures and religions that all kind of meshed their holidays into one. But gift giving wasn't adapted into Christmas. The tree and Santa Clause were, but the gift giving remains a tried and true Christmas tradition. We give gifts on people's birthdays right? Well Christmas is Christ's birthday. But we can't go to heaven and give Christ a present, but in the scriptures he says "If ye have done it unto the least of my brethren ye have done it unto me." So if I put time and thought into a gift for my sister, I have put that time and thought into a gift for Christ. A lot of people also gave gifts at Christmas time to represent the wise men who gave gifts to the Christ child. Gift giving is a SPIRITUAL part of Christmas if you let it be. And frankly the tree and Santa and candy canes and everything else Christmas-like has poems and stories you can find on the internet that tie them to Jesus. So go read a few, pick one you like, and then drink a big old cup of Holiday Joy!
I want everyone who feels any negativity about Christmas to remember something, it's your choice. If you want to be frustrated because you have to give your sister a gift and your stressed because you can't find it anywhere, then you'll be stressed and frustrated. OR you can be excited about how much she'll love the gift you give her, and enjoy "the hunt". If you'd like to be annoyed that you've heard White Christmas 83 times in the last month, then you can be. Or you can change the station and listen to something you do like, or be happy that for the 83rd time that month you get to hear someone elses idea of holiday cheer. But it is a choice! I choose to love Christmas and listen to Christmas music every single day since Halloween, because in my heart and mind it is the most wonderful time of the year.
So I guess what I am trying to say in all of this is keep the negativity to yourself! If you don't have something nice to say (even if it's about Christmas) then don't say anything at all! Some of us are just trying to enjoy this season of happiness and love.
Now on a happier note, I love Christmas. I love everything about it. This year my Husband and I are living with my parents to try and save money until I am out of school. They are both really busy and neither of them really wanted to do a whole lot of Christmas stuff. I tried to decorate but my mom didn't want me to because we'd have to take it down in 2 weeks anyways. Other than the tree the house is pretty Christmas-less. So I threw up Christmas in my husband and I's hallway. Yeah we have tiny little hallway, with two rooms on the end. I decorated doors like presents and I put strings of lights on the roof with ornaments. It looks fabulous! And every time I look at those decorations they make me happy and they remind me of what time of year it is and what happened all those years ago. They remind me of the Love of Christ and my family.
To me Christmas is so many things. It's snow, hot chocolate, sweet toast, a big dinner, lights, trees, gift wrapping, and polar express. It's a Christmas Carol and Small One. It's family and love and Christ. It's a time to think about the Savior and to feel lighter and full of joy. It's a time to serve others and think of others you love. Christmas is a lot of things that I love, but most of all I love the music! So many people think the songs are repetitive and annoying but I can't get enough! So here are my three favorite Christmas songs, three songs with three different take on Christmas.
1- Christmas Is by Francesca Battistelli! I love this song! It is so happy and fun and upbeat! I love her voice too. Although this doesn't have the best sound quality it was the only one I could find with out annoying pictures and words in ugly and distracting fonts haha.
2- Love is Christmas by Sara Bareilles. Her voice wraps you in a warm hug and every words she speak is full of love and the Christmas spirit. Probably my favorite Christmas song of all time.
3- This is by far my all time favorite version of this song. I actually didn't really care for "Do You Hear What I Hear" until this version came on my Pandora. I am a very weepy person, and it was the first time this song brought tears to my eyes. Enjoy.
Final Words ♥: You can have a Merry Christmas if you want to. And I sincerely hope that you do.
