Meaning of Christmas

  What does Christmas mean to you?  Is it the presents, giving, shopping, decorated trees?  Could it be spending time with friends and family, sharing laughs and memories? Perhaps it is watching the children's faces as they sit in Santa's lap and tearing off the brightly colored paper from boxes under the tree?
  For others, Christmas is a time of sadness and loneliness. Their spouse or parents having just passed away. A time of waking up alone on Christmas morning with no gifts and no tree. For many, it is a stressful time because they do not have the money to buy the presents their children want, much less a tree to decorate or the gas money to visit family, much less money to pay the heating bill.  Some people simply dread the thought of spending time with their relatives because they know there will be arguments and drunkenness.
  This year, Christmas is a little of both for me, a time of happiness and a time of sadness.  I cannot wait to see my children and watch their faces as they merrily unwrap gifts, eat the cookies I baked for them, and beg me to take them shopping with the money they got from grandparents.  This is also a Christmas of a big first and a big last.  You see, my son joined the Air Force after his Junior year in High School.  He left for boot camp right after graduation.  I have seen him once in the last 5 months.  Tomorrow, he will be home for Christmas.  I am so excited to see him, all grown up and in his uniform.  The pride and love I have for him is inexplicable and overflowing.
  The sadness comes with the knowledge that he will be leaving again in a week.  I do not know when he will return.  He finishes tech school in the spring and immediately leaves for South Korea.  He could be there up to 3 years.  It is very hard to let go, but I am going to make the best of it.  You see, I have hope. I know, no matter what, we will see each other again.
  Contrary to what I stated above, Christmas is not about any of those things.  It is all about Jesus. We do not know the exact date that Jesus was born. Personally, I do not believe it matters.  What is important is that Jesus came to this earth and he died for all of humanity because He Loves Us!  Christmas should be about celebrating the fact that we are loved. The fact that Jesus Christ was born, born to die, born to be raised again, and to live forever with his Father, God, in heaven, born to wait for us to be with him - Forever.
  So, no matter what your circumstances are this year, celebrate. Celebrate that you are loved by our Heavenly Father.  Celebrate that we are only here on this earth for a short time, and circumstances are temporary. Money and circumstance should not dictate whether to love. Celebrate and love one another as Jesus loves You!