The Greatest Gift

It's beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas as the decorations are hung in the house, as well as, on the tree. For Jack Frost is nipping not only at your nose, but every other major body part depending on where you live. It's one time out of the year where ever person feel a certain energy i the air that can turn you back into a wide-eyed little kid again. It's that innocence that is seen through our eyes way back when that makes the holiday season so festive. For that proverbial countdown has already started and the days on the calendar are being crossed out as we speak. Let me ask you this question, do you still get excited when Christmas time comes around or do you gradually turn into an Ebeneezer Scrooge?

Oftentimes, a person will become jaded as the holiday season rolls around. He or she will focus on the negative aspects such as the long lines in stores and in airports, plus encountering people who are absolutely rude. For that person's focus isn't on building up a memorable Christmas that will be enjoyed by all; but rather tearing down of it. We all know a person or crossed paths with someone like this and even though you try to be friendly with him or her, they will still have a crabby attitude no matter what one does or says. It's these scrooges that have lost the spirit of Christmas and that wide-eyed little kid that they used to has been replaced with a nasty Grinch.

In any case, Christmas presents are just one of many aspects that most people really enjoy. Every person's eyes light up when he or she receives a gift from someone or sees some under the old Christmas tree. Each of us at some point, as young kids, tried to sneak a peak at his or her gifts and either got caught in the act or not at all. Personally speaking, I never was caught and I had a sneaky way to find out what I got. Depending on what type of package it was, I would poke a hole at the bottom, shine the Christmas light in it and see what I got. Of course it ruined the mystery; but think about this, it was the mere challenge of not getting caught that made it absolutely such a thrill to do.

Inevitably, as one grows older, the perception of Christmas tends to lose its spark. For one realizes that Santa doesn't exist and eventually finds out that in fact one's own parents are Santa Clause which was somewhat disappointing. Yet it's that solid belief, as a kid, that it's an absolute possibility that a man flies all across the world bringing presents to little children. You can't help but smile when someone mentions the name Santa Clause, because the name takes you back to your own childhood. A childhood where you stayed up and tried to see if he would come to your house and leave presents. Though one may not believe in jolly old Saint Nick anymore, his essence still lives on in each of us.

Someone once said, ~The universal joy of Christmas is certainly wonderful. We ring the bells when princes are born, or toll a mournful dirge when great men pass away. Nations have their red-letter days, their carnivals and festivals, but once a year and only once, the whole world stands still to celebrate the advent of a life. Only Jesus of Nazareth claims this worldwide, undying remembrance. You cannot cut Christmas out of the calendar, nor out of the heart of the world.~ In retrospect, Christmas isn't about getting or giving gifts that may or may not be returned. For you see two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ was born in a manger and He is the greatest gift ever given from the heart to mankind from God.