#UnwrapChristmas : Lessons from Christmas
I am thankful to Pratikshya Mishra for passing on the baton of spreading Christmas joy and spirit.
If there is a time of the year that I look forward to, it definitely has to be the Christmas season. Yes a season and not just a day. Even before December arrives I start humming Christmas carols all day. And as the day draws closer, I see my surroundings transformed. The melody of the carols, the glitter of the decorations, the aroma of the cakes and cookies- all of them add to the Christmas vibes. But what makes Christmas special is that it is that time of the year where families come together. That is why I love Christmas.
But it not just that. Christmas which celebrates God becoming man teaches us a lot. While most of us are busy making last minute preparations for Christmas, here are a few lessons from some of the things associated with Christmas.
1.The star teaches us to let our light shine and guide others
Each one of us is blessed with talents. There are something that we are good at. Instead of holding back, we must learn to make the best use of our talents and in turn guide others. The star guided the wise men from the East to the manger where Jesus was born. We must make use of the gifts we have to guide others.
2.The crib, the manger teaches us simplicity
The fairy lights and sparkling Christmas decorations may make our surroundings look beautiful. But what made the first Christmas beautiful was the birth of the Son of God in a tiny manger. No matter how great we are we must be humble always. The manger was a lowly place. It wasn’t a luxurious place but it was where baby Jesus lay. It was the shepherds, not kings who were the first visitors to see the new born. Simplicity pays.
3.The wise men teach us to never stop searching
One of my favourite quotations from the Bible is “Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the doors will be open to you” (Mt 7:8) The wise men followed the star in search of the saviour. They could have given up their journey and returned to their respective places. But they did not give up. In life, if there is a dream that we wish to chase, if there is a path that we wish to follow, we must pursue it. It is easy to give up but difficult to keep going. The wise men finally got to see the new born. Similarly, the reward for your pursuits will eventually come.
4.Santa Claus teaches us the joy of giving, of spreading smiles
Come Christmas and we all eagerly await for gifts. There is Secret Santa played at offices and colleges. But did you know that the person of Santa Claus originated from St Nicholas who used to give gifts to the poor families to help them celebrate Christmas? Santa teaches us to bring cheer and to spread laughter.
5.Christmas teaches us togetherness
Christmas is the festival of togetherness. It is that time of the year when families gather together to celebrate. The symbols of Christmas- the tree, the crib, the sweets are the results of the work that we do together as a family. If Christmas doesn’t teach us this, then it isn’t Christmas at all.
Just one festival and there is so much to learn. The true meaning of Christmas is when you feel it is Christmas not after looking at the tree, the decorations or the carols. It is Christmas if you fell it in your heart. The lights, the decorations may glitter, the melodious strains of the carols may liven the spirit, the delicious aromas of cakes may waft through the air. But is there twinkle in your eyes, is there a spring in your step and most importantly is there joy in your heart and smile on your face that radiates the glow of Christmas?
Here are a few lines from a hymn that we must ponder on.
“Christmas comes just once a year.
But in your hearts, make it sure,
Christmas isn’t Christmas
If it doesn’t last forever!”
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!
May your Christmas be filled with joy!
I now invite Vijay Preetham Burton to spread the message of Christmas and new years on their blog.
Now, that is an informative post. I remember learning that in my college (I studied in a Christian College) days and so glad to read about it here again. Wish you a very Merry Christmas, dear Reema 🙂
Reema,I loved your line’knock and the doors will be opened’.I totally agree with you. Every festival has a reason behind that spreads the wise message. From you we have known that today
Wow… There is meaning in everything.. every story around Christmas . Wow..
Very thoughtful… Thanks for sharing this…
Merry Christmas …
Thank you Pratikshya
Reema ! Thank you for sharing this meaningful message of Christmas. I always look forward to christmas because the belief in togetherness is what drives me each day 🙂
This year celebrating this spirit with you through Unwrap Christmas has been my highlight <3 Hope to always have you around 🙂
Merry Christmas and a very happy new year 🙂
I glad you liked this Richa! Hoping to be a part of Unwrap Christmas next year too! Merry Christmas and a happy New year
That’s a beautiful post Reema. Love the lessons associated with the star and the manger, especially!
And I agree with you on the spirit of Christmas – it’s a spirit we must keep alive in our hearts always, not just on one day or during one month.
I hope you have a beautiful Christmas season and a wonderful 2017.
Thank you Shinjini
Reema as I read your post I realised you embody the spirit of Christmas In your online persona so well .. Thriving on the spirit of togetherness , always ready for something new . I wish you a happiness as you celebrate Christmas today with your friends and family 🙂
Thank you Chandni
For many, Christmas has lost its true meaning: just an excuse for retails to sell their merchandise to consumers who feel pressure to give expensive gifts to people who don’t really need another iPhone upgrade or bottle of perfume. For some, Christmas is a holiday, a time of escape from a stressful, overworked career or dreary, mindless work. It’s a day to relax, spend time with the girlfriend, the spouse, the kids. For some, Christmas is still a religious event, a sacred occasion to celebrate the birth of Christ, through singing of Christmas Carols at a church service, attending midnight mass, listening to the message, engaging in prayer and other religious rituals. Pope Francis reminds us that” Christmas is joy, religious joy, an inner joy of light and peace.” For me, Christmas time also means contemplating another passing year, making New Years Resolutions, bringing in the New Year with family, expressing hope for the future.I’m counting my blessings for another year of relative happiness and good physical and mental health.
These takeaways are some revelations. I have kept christmas trees and cribs during christmas and if you have read my posts, you’ll know how much I love that time of the year. But I never thought of it in this manner. You should also write posts on how you celebrate christmas and of some christmas stories too 🙂