I’ll always remember being so excited this time of year to send out my Christmas list to Santa. My list basically consisted of three things each year: Barbies, American Girl Doll and doll furniture for my American Girl Doll.
Through the years, my desire for dolls turned into cell phones, electronics and makeup, then to clothes and so on. However, since I’ve been on my own at college, my outlook on life and what holds value to me has changed drastically to say the least. The things I really want cannot be bought, and Christmas has become a time not to celebrate myself, gifts or vacations, but to celebrate Him. On that note, let me share with you my Christmas list this year.
To make my campus better.
I can’t tell you how much I wish there was more love, hope and truth surrounding the place I call home for the school year. This has little to do with my school in particular, but with the bigger idea that it’s extremely important that students on college campuses everywhere learn not only the academic and professional skills at school, but the value of their own worth and others around them as well. Too many young people walk around with many burdens due to social reasons, financial reasons, anxiety, stress, depression, illness, etc. If college was a compassionate, friendly, helpful, encouraging community with values of truth, being a college student would be much easier on a student, and colleges everywhere would be sending better, happier and greater teachers out into the real world.
To be so incredibly close to Christ.
Too often do I go through my days that I wonder things like:
“Am I disappointing God?”
“Am I doing this right, will He be displeased with me if I do this?”
“Am I going to make the right decision?”
“What should I do about this person?”
“Will I be able to make it through this?”
I’ll always be looking for an answer to these questions. But the thing is, the answer to these questions is a question. How can I be closer to Christ? How can I be so undeniably close to Him, that I could walk through my days fearlessly with my trust in His guidance? How much closer could I be to the One who Created me to be here, and has the plan for my life? The bad news is that we can’t do it all ourselves, no matter how much we’d like to think we can. We try to self-fix and repair, but we can’t. The good news is that that Jesus literally loves you no matter what, even if you don’t love Him back! And He will always be there waiting for you. He will always guide you and help you, all you have to do is seek Him.
For all to love their neighbor.
This explains itself. With all the hate and terror going on in the world right now, I couldn’t think of a better way to make the world a better place than if everyone loved those around them, regardless of circumstances.
To be able to turn on the news without seeing acts of mass horror and terror.
That there will be no one with no place to stay.
That there will be no one with no food.
That this world will overcome its selfishness, love of money, pride and rebellion.
That we all be able to humble ourselves before God and before others.
That we can see the wealth that goes far beyond material things.
That my heart will know nothing but love. If I can take anything from all of this, it would be that the things of this earth are not permanent and they will perish; if you are spending your whole life building it off of material things and not on the meaningful things, you will always find yourself missing something. If you are bitter towards others and are only caring towards those who care for you, we will lose the whole concept of forgiveness, mercy and compassion. So if you’re celebrating Christmas this year, please remember all that our Savior has done for us and to make an effort to reciprocate that into the world around us. In a time of multiple tragedies, fear and terrorism, we need love, mercy and compassion more than we ever have. Now is not the time to dwell on material things. Personally, I believe there are many treasures that need to be plowed from the earth during this difficult and confusing time, and they aren’t ones that come with a pretty bow around it, but rather those that make a better world. No matter what you celebrate, or even if you don’t, Happy Holidays, and I wish the utmost love and peace to you all.
