Sitting around the dinner table the other night, Hugues and I started sharing Christmas memories. Well, mostly, I started sharing Christmas memories. Jovan's favorite movie this season is The Polar Express and his face when he sees Santa or the lit up Christmas tree takes me back to when I used to believe. I remember laying awake listening for the bells of Santa's sleigh, and the one Christmas where my dad actually got out on the roof outside our bedroom windows and put "reindeer prints". We all woke early to simply sit in front of the tree, peeking at the presents. The largest one was almost always unlabeled and we all hoped what lay inside was for us. Eventually one of us would muster the courage to wake mom and dad so we could get the show on the road.
Hugues listened to my magical stories with a look slightly blank and without total comprehension. Then he said that Christmas used to be his favorite day of the year because on that day nobody went hungry.
Nobody went hungry. Each family saved so they could provide their family a meal that day, and if they could not, another family would always share.
That makes my memories so...empty almost. This year we personally know countless people who will go hungry, even on Christmas. There will be no talk of Santa, no bells in the distance, no presents or lights, and no Christmas meal. But they celebrate all the same, and I wonder if their celebration isn't more meaningful in many ways. Stripped of the trappings of Christmas (which I love and so enjoy, don't get me wrong), what does it mean to truly celebrate Christmas?
This year, I am more aware of what it means to celebrate and more thankful for what surrounds me this holiday season. The first Christmas was not beautiful, contrary to the popular song, it was not silent, and there were no lights, bows, and probably little food either. But there was JOY. That is my prayer, that no matter where in the world we find ourselves this Christmas we would be able to feel the joy of the gift that was given to us through Jesus Christ.
Merry Christmas!
