Christmas Reflections

 There's nothing like family during the Christmas season, and most especially on Christmas day. Of all the memories throughout the years, from childhoods into teenage and young adult years, I've cherished so deeply Christmas mornings and Christmas Eve with my siblings. 

Of course, it began to look different when siblings got married and had their own families and traditions were a bit different, but coming together was the same, with more people and presents abound! The richness of being together and celebrating with delicious food for a formal dinner. Sometimes we'd go for a walk on Christmas afternoon, or stay inside with all the gifts, the children, noise and chatter, and sweets like my mom's delicious Christmas cookies!

On Christmas Eve, we would go to Mass as family and come home afterwards all excited and ready for Christmas festivities, sometimes even opening one or two gifts, eating sweets, drinking hot cider and watching classic Christmas movies such as Its a Wonderful Life. We wouldn't want to miss it!

Upon watching just a few clips of this movie (we didn't watch the whole thing this year), it brought back so many memories of this tradition we had, over the years. And it stirred upon me nostalgia, but also beauty of the meaning, the treasured value of our lives, existence and what we mean to each other, and the impact we have. It brought tears to my eyes for all these reasons! And also, what Christmas means to us. Baby Jesus coming into this world, as one of us, going down to our level, as a pure and innocent, cute baby, so we won't be afraid of him. 

I think about people who have a hard time during the holiday season- a loss of a loved one perhaps, sufferings, pains, loneliness, etc... I can't imagine what others endure for various reasons, and it makes me think about all the many, many blessings I've received for my whole life, and during Christmas time! But also, how this year has felt different. Its allowed me to reflect and enter more deeply into the manger scene on that first Christmas. There were many things that were not ideal for Mary and Joseph and Jesus, but they trusted and accepted the cold, the animals, the smells, the lack of privacy even. God was not born in a palace and it's not what they thought they needed or expected- there was no room in the inn. 

That's what I've tried to contemplate- sometimes Christmas time isn't what we expect or like necessary, but there are still so many blessings and things to be grateful for! And sometimes it makes us grow through different circumstances, or reflections upon past memories. Christmas isn't about us, but worshiping God and loving Him as He entered this world.