A Challenge For The Holiday

Christmas is a great, yet extremely strange Holiday.

In one respect, it is a time of Family, Joy, and Meaning.

We spend time with those we care about, give them presents because we want to show them our Love, and enjoy each other's company.

For Christians, it is also a time of recognizing Sacrifice, the beginning of a Path to Redemption, and an age of Hope.

However, Christmas also has become very Superficial over the years.

We often buy presents because we are "supposed to".

Sales happen everywhere with the goal of extracting as much money as possible from us.

Almost every business sends out some form of "Happy Holidays" email to show how much they "Care".

We all know that it feels forced though - even the ones that mean it don't "feel" like they do because it sounds and looks like all the rest.

Sadly, it rings Hollow in many ways.

Then, we talk about this thing - The "Spirit" of Christmas.

What is it really?

Many people have an unconscious understanding, but can't express it in words.

But, do we really "have" the Spirit of Christmas?

Then my next question is, how long do we have the Spirit of Christmas?

Assuming you have it at all?

Maybe for a month or two?

Then what happens?

We lose the Magic of it.

We get bogged down with the other Realities of Life.

We Focus on what is wrong with the people we care about.

In the rest of the happenings in Life, we forget what Christmas is about.

Until the Siren calls of Consumerism remind us that it's time to "buy more".

To me, Christmas shouldn't be something Superficial, nor any of the other Holidays for that matter.

It may be nice to dedicate days to these special aspects of Life, but what then?

This is my Challenge to you - don't lose the Spirit of Christmas or any of the other Holidays.

How long can you keep the Spirit alive and well within you?

1 more Month?

Another Quarter?

Half a Year?

All the way until Next Christmas?

Those are all good and great, but I think they don't go far enough.

Can you keep the Spirit alive within you for the Rest of your Life?

THAT is what the Holidays SHOULD be about!

It's not about a day or a month.

It should be about the Entirety of your Life!

Can you LIVE with the Magic exuding from you?

Though the snow may come, and the days grow darker, can you still be a source of Joy to all of those around you?

When we go through difficulties, can we set aside our differences and come together in Love for each other?

Though we make mistakes and do things wrong at times, can we still show each other what we do Appreciate in each other?

To me, Christmas isn't about a day in the year.

It is about a new and beautiful Era of Time that is filled with Hope for all people!

It is a new Age where we all can come together and enjoy the wonderful things about each other.

That is a Magic that we can always hold within us, that we can always share with those that we encounter, each and every day!

People so often forget the wonderful parts of Life, and the darkness that surrounds us does make it hard at times.

But we can bring that Spirit of Christmas and the Holidays with us everywhere that we go!

We can hold it within us every day!

We can share it with those we encounter!

My Challenge to you is to ALWAYS hold the Magic and the Spirit within you!