TRUE ESSENCE OF CHRISTMAS 

          When the month of September comes, people would say, “Hey, -ber months have arrived, it’s Christmas!” People start decorating their houses with Christmas trees and Christmas lanterns. They would spend much of their money buying different kinds of Christmas decorations, from Christmas trees to Christmas lanterns to Christmas lights and many other more. Others would start buying new dresses that they would use on Christmas day. Others start buying gifts for their loved ones. Still others would start buying groceries for their “Noche Buena”. Well I guess the true spirit of Christmas could not be felt from those activities mentioned above. Where does the true essence of Christmas lie?

          “People making list, buying special gifts, taking time to be kind to one and all. It’s the time of year when good friends are dear and you wish you could give more than just presents from the store…”  Are you familiar with those lines? Yes, those are the lines from the first verse of the song “Give Love on Christmas Day.”  For me, the song gives the perfect description on the true and real essence of Christmas…give love on Christmas day. But where did this love started and where did it come from?

         

Let us analyze the word Christmas. We see from the word the name of Jesus Christ. Yes, Jesus Christ was born on December 25, Christmas day. Christ was born out of love and because of love. He was born out of love and because of love…”For God so loved the world that He gave His only son…” Yes, God loves humankind, although man was already drowning with sin. He gave us His only son Jesus Christ so that humankind will be saved from sin.

Let us reminisce once more how Jesus Christ was born. Mother Mary gave birth on the desert. Jesus was born in a lowly manger. No comfortable bed, no air-conditioned room. Jesus had nothing when He came out into this world. What does this imply? It shows humility…it shows simplicity. I do not say it’s bad to decorate our house with expensive decorations during Christmas season, but there are more important things that we should think about other than buying those expensive ornaments. Let us be humble and simple, just like JESUS when He was born.

Where does this tradition of gift giving during Christmas started? Remember the visitors of Jesus when He was born…the three kings? They brought their gifts to a newborn whom they believed to be the King of all kings. They have showed the very first example of gift giving on Christmas Day.

What I am trying to say is that the true essence of Christmas does not lie on how extravagant we spend on our clothes, how expensive the ornaments and decorations we buy, how big or small our gifts are…it is on thinking about Jesus and taking Him as our example not only during Christmas Day but also everyday. Just like what the song say, “Give love on Christmas Day.” But please, let us not stop giving love on Christmas. Let us give love everyday of our life so that we may find peace, joy, and happiness in our life.