Hold on to the spirit of Christmas

Just because another December 25th has come and gone, it doesn’t mean you let Christmas go, too. Keep the spirit of Christmas alive in yourself. 

The wonder of Christmas is that the spirit of the Creator came to live among us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, the savior who was long anticipated. Jesus was divine and human at once, demonstrating a life that is totally connected with our creator, the relationship that God wants to have with all of us.

Spiritual life was the first Christmas gift from God to us, inherited by every generation. A gift to enjoy every day. Now, if that isn’t something to forever wonder about, I don’t know what is. 

A lot of the letdown many feel right after Christmas is that the material gifts we receive from Santa do not satisfy for long. But to hold the spirit of Christmas all year long is to realize that the gift of spiritual life, now and forever, is the only gift that will satisfy. It’s the one gift that everybody needs.  

It’s good that we also bring the fun and magic of the Santa Claus legend into our Christmas celebrations. Write your Christmas wish list. Your wishes contain all the possibilities of your intelligence, wisdom, street smarts, ingenuity, creativity, courage, passion and your special brand of love. You are meant to be the essence of Christmas, of Santa Claus, giving your gifts to make the world better than it would be without you. 

It’s good to dedicate a day each year to celebrate Christmas. But we should also continually live the original gift and continually be a giver of our gifts. Nobody else can be you. Nobody can speak or write the words you give to others, at just the right moment. Nobody else can be the spouse, parent, sibling, friend, teacher, craftsperson, preacher … whatever are your gifts. Whatever your race, age, history or economic status, you are a unique creation. You bring Christmas to the world every day. And nobody does it quite like you. 

So, yes, there is a God. The anticipated birth of Jesus brought an everlasting spark of light to the world, and Jesus continues to light the world through us. 

And, yes, Virginia – and every name from Abigail to Zachary – there is a Santa Claus. The anticipation of Santa’s arrival each year sparks the child in all of us.  

Oh, the wonder of it all!

There’s a song that says “we need a little Christmas, right this very minute.” I say we need a little Christmas every single minute, 24/7/365. 

Wish. Believe. Give. Receive. Live your gift of life to the fullest. 

Now ponder these: “How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.” –Francis P. Church

“Christmas, my child, is love in action.” –Dale Evans

“It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.” –W.T. Ellis