When is it time? Time to give back to the people that made sure your Christmas was nothing short of a fairy tale.
And helped you write your letters to Santa.
And left cookies and milk.
And decorated the tree every year while watching Christmas movies.
And tucked you in telling you, "you need to go to sleep or Santa will never come."
Then, after you were all tucked away, they stayed up all night making sure every present was wrapped with your favorite wrapping paper. Ate all the cookies you set out for Santa, and finishing the night up with writing a letter back to you "From Santa." Try to cram one hour of sleep in until you would come in and jump on their bed at 6am screaming, "SANTA CAME, SANTA CAME!"
With big sleepy eyes and coffee cups in their hand, they videotape and capture every smile and gasp from the first present to the last one. When we were kids, we didn't think about saying thank you to our parents because we thought they were from Santa. But they didn't need a thank you, watching you run down the stairs in your Christmas pajamas smiling with glazed eyes looking at the tree trying to guess what was in each box. Years and years go on. Sleepless nights of your parents trying to wrap everything they were able to get you. But when does that process stop? When is it time to return the favor to the ones that never asked for anything in return?
It is time to give back to the ones that made Christmas one of your favorite holidays.
When is it time to stop writing that Christmas list of all the extravagant things we wouldn't even buy ourselves. And remember that the presence of loved ones in your home is the real memory of Christmas for you. Where your mom put up the Christmas tree covered in the home made ornaments you made in elementary school.
It is time to think about how every Christmas with loved ones are a gift. We spend months at a time in our cold apartment because we do not want to turn on the heat. With the aroma of old left-over food, and dishes we have put off for the last couple of days. We come to a home at a warm 72 degree, taking for granted it smells like cinnamon and the last home cooked meal your mom just made. Just being in the presence of your home where you can raid the fully stocked fridge, hug mom and dad as long as you want, and take a long hot shower not worrying that you will have to pay the water bill soon. Be in love with your situation of your home rather than worrying what is under the Christmas tree with your name on it.
Parents know the scarcity of money in this point of our lives. Maybe you compromised to buy toilet paper instead of toothpaste last week. And that you just put 3 dollars of nickels and dimes into your gas tank. Christmas does not come down to what you can buy your parents at the nicest store. They crave your presence more than anything. Be in the moment with them, not just your body being in the same room with them. Turn off social media, put down the phone, and get away from the T.V. Your snapchat and Instagram; friends do not need to see what your parents got you.
They do not want your money, give them your time, love, and genuine conversation. These beautiful beings gave you 20 or more great Christmases. Striving to make you happy and see the smile on your face. We smile this big once a year, why has an object become the center of our happiness? When we have really forgotten what the ultimate gift really is on Christmas. God gave this world the ultimate gift of Jesus Christ to this Earth. So the tree, presents, and Santa, it has all been created to make Christmas something that it is not.
This Christmas, throw away that wish list, all those things will no longer matter when you can no longer spend that Christmas cuddled around that tree with your loved ones. So, take this time to humble yourself, grow up and realize Christmas is no longer what your family can do for you. Give this Christmas instead of making sure you receive.
No more wish list, you already have to ultimate gift of life, love and family. Go love on them while you can.
They want your PRESENCE NOT YOUR PRESENTS!
Merry Christmas Ya'll
