Christmas Is Here, What Does It Mean To You?

 

Christmas... A holiday I would dare almost most of the world celebrate in some kind of way. Whether it's the celebration of Jesus' birth or the celebration of gifts, maybe even something else. The question is how do we celebrate it as children of God? I do believe that most if not all do celebrate it with the intention and main focus on the birth of Jesus. Followed by the giving of gifts and truly just being around family and close friends on a day like Christmas. In this post I'll share with you how I used to celebrate it growing up, my struggles with celebrating Christmas (not because of Jesus), and also how in the present future I'm looking to celebrate it and why. 

Starting first, the way I grew up was a very mixed bag of things. My family being Puerto Rican and having certain things that aligned with our culture could be and was confusing at most times. See, I was brought up Catholic to an extent.  The reason I say to an extent was because there was also Santeria and Brujeria involved as well in my home to an extent. Yet, Christmas was celebrated on the years my father wasn't in prison and was still with my mom; In a catholic church to watch the plays of Jesus' birth. Followed by going home my mother cooking lots of food and then going to a family members house. Mainly to one specific aunts house. 

The family would meet there and exchange gifts, eat food, drink, and  sometimes the teenagers would have access to alcohol. Majority of this celebration actually took place on Christmas Eve. Most cases than not we would all stay up till 12am to open our presents. And don't get me wrong I do have great memories when that was the case. It was something about all of us cousins in one house playing hide and go seek and other games that made the day worth it. While the adults played dominoes and cards while doing their adult things. 

But that wasn't always how it was celebrated. When my father would go to jail/prison we wouldn't always meet up at a family members house because my mother didn't drive and still doesn't to this day. So we would spend it at home. We didn't have much, but she would always try to make sure we had a christmas tree whether is one that we had for years, or an inexpensive one to have the holiday feeling in the house. She would try to get all of us presents but that wasn't always the case. It almost felt like an innocent version of the game of Russian Roulette on how we were going to celebrate Christmas every year. 

Once again though I do have good memories as well as terrible memories from my childhood and celebrating Christmas. I will however say that it was more bad than good. Which leads me to how I currently celebrate it and how I am looking to break the circle of how it is celebrated. After accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior. The truth is at that point I didn't care anything about holidays. Sadly including Christmas, yes I did and do thank the Lord on that day for sending His only Son for our sins that day. But that was basically it. When I got married to my wife she was and is the holiday person in our household. She loves celebrating the holidays and loves Christmas. 

In other words, I started celebrating Christmas again being married to her. Having a tree, going to family house and eating and exchanging gift. Not me so much but she did most of the things. It just wasn't in my heart to celebrate that day the way that everyone did or how I was brought up to. Then getting to know Jesus questions started to make its way into my head. Like "What's the right way to celebrate Christmas?" and I know it's a basic question. But not coming from a Christian household it was hard for me to pin it down. The more the years went by the more I questioned how would "I" celebrate it. And would it make sense and honor God most importantly. 

My conclusion and how I'm looking to celebrate this beautiful true meaning to the holiday is in worship, gratitude, and submission to God. Yes, there will still be gifts involved and family involved as well. But I want to change it up, I would like to go to my local church service for Christmas Eve and then on Christmas day have family come over and worship God together, read the scripture, pray, and then enjoy the food and the presents. And I know there maybe people out there doing this now and honestly I think it's an awesome thing! But for me and my upbringing I want to change it to this. I know I could've but God works in us individually and we grow and learn the more we allow God to move in our lives. So I'm looking forward to this change and looking to change the meaning of Christmas in my eyes to what it really means. And that's the day Jesus was born and to give Him all praise, worship, gratitude, with my family on that day. 

So finally the question I have for you is, what does Christmas mean to you?