Every year around Christmas everyone starts talking about being merry and jolly for Christmas, and every year I sit and think to myself if Christmas really is as merry and as jolly as everyone tries to make it seem. Now, do not get me wrong, I absolutely love Christmas time, because I get to just sit at home, watch television, and relax after working hard all semester. However, I still cannot help but question if Christmas is really as jolly as everyone tries to make it seem?

Though for some of us Christmas is the time that we celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus Christ, for others it is just a time of year to get presents. However, have you ever stopped to think about those people who are unfortunate and are not able to receive or give anything for Christmas? Those people who do not have a roof over their heads, and barely any clothes on their back, or those people who will not have a Christmas meal to eat. Have you stopped to think about those people who do not have a family to spend Christmas with or even to hear a merry Christmas from? Even the people who may have lost a loved one around this time, or who does not have any loved ones at all. So again, I need to ask why exactly are we so jolly around this time of the year?

I know that we need do need to be grateful for all of our small mercies that we are blessed with, but at the same time, I feel like we need to be very aware that not everyone gets to have a Merry or Happy Christmas like those of us who are more fortunate can. Not everyone gets to wake up and have a beautifully lite Christmas tree, or even presents that they can open. Not everyone gets to have a hot meal on Christmas morning, and not everyone is going to be smiling and 'jolly' on Christmas day. Again, this is not intended to bring down the Christmas spirit for people; rather it is to make us more mindful of what is happening around us.

It is okay to be happy around this time of year but also keep those who may not be as blessed in your prayers. We should try to help someone out even if it means just cooking a hot meal or donating to a charity. We were created to serve and not to be served. So as we draw closer to this time of the year remember that there are people who are less fortunate, and these people may even be your friends. Be merry and give cheerfully, just as our savior gives to us cheerfully every day.

Happy Holidays!