It seems that when we were little we began compiling our Christmas lists in August and had no trouble thinking of all the things we wanted. From personal experience, at least, some Christmas lists could go over two pages long with all the extravagant toys and gifts from Santa. Although I always agreed that Christmas is not just about the presents under the tree, I secretly thought that it mostly was.
However, as we get older we realize that all the sappy things we were told about the holidays as children were actually true. It somehow is better to give than to receive. Sure it's nice to have new things, but that feeling of having the new iPhone 6S can never compare to the feeling of knowing you did something nice for someone else. Even if it is just buying a gift for someone else, seeing the look on their face when they open that gift and realizing that you got the perfect present for them is amazing.
What you find yourself asking for is any way to give back. You don't need to buy expensive gifts and drown them in shiny ribbons to show people you care. The spirit of Christmas is not about who can buy the most expensive presents but doing what you can for others. Mary and Joseph didn't want the nicest robes or extravagant gifts; they just wanted a place to rest their heads. Especially given the current global climate, we all might learn a thing or two about opening our hearts and our homes to those less fortunate.
Do what you can: volunteer at the soup kitchen, give that homeless guy a few dollars, donate to Toys for Tots. No act of kindness is ever too small.
Personally, it was way more upsetting to find out that Children's Healthcare of Atlanta did not need anymore employee elf volunteers to visit patients on Christmas than any prospect of not having a big enough gift under the Christmas tree.
But above all, what you really want is time. This is the one gift that cannot be given but can be taken away so quickly. The older you get, the more you realize that the time you spend and the memories you make with your family and friends are the most gifts valuable of all. It is all too easy to forget to tell your loved ones how much they truly mean to you until it is too late.
Now that we've reached our 20-somethings, it's easy to see that our lists become shorter and shorter as the spirit of Christmas becomes clearer to us. We become much more excited to visit home and see our families than the unveiling of the newest Xbox One game and we are more willing than burdened to give back to the community.
This year, I pray that you remember what Christmas is really all about and ask yourself, "Why did it take me so long to realize it?"
