My year-round Christmas
When I was a youngster, I thought Christmas was just about getting presents. In fact, one year I was so anxious about getting a “magic skin doll” that I actually made myself sick. This trend went on for several years as I wished for this or that toy.
Then one day in Sunday School my perspective changed. We read the story of the nativity in the first chapter of Matthew and the second chapter of Luke, and I realized that Christmas was not about my getting what I wanted. It was all about love—the love that Jesus brought to the world, throughout his career of healing and even after the crucifixion and resurrection. This realization healed me of any concern for gifts that I might or might not receive.
When the wise men found the inn where Jesus was born, they knelt before him with precious gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They didn’t take anything away. They gave. With great love and humbleness they bowed before the Christ child, without expecting anything in return. They were truly giving their love for the blessed event. Joseph, Mary, and the wise men all listened for divine Love’s guidance, and as a result Joseph was led to go to Egypt with Mary and Jesus because of Herod’s threat. And the wise men were led to go to their own country and not return to Herod.
How grateful we can be that we too can follow the divine leading and guiding star of God’s love in our daily activities! History shows us that mankind in many ways has experienced proofs of healing and been guided in the direction of Christlikeness. When we are responsive to the presence of one Mind, we can be sure that our lives will conform more and more to the footsteps of our Way-shower, Christ Jesus.
Christmas is a good time to establish in our hearts joy, forgiveness, gratitude, and love, and to do away with any erroneous thoughts of willfulness, wanting, or stubborn opinions. At all times we can reinforce our awareness of Jesus’ promise for mental and physical freedom, rejoicing in infinite Truth and being at peace. God, who is all good, could never withhold needed wisdom and intelligence from His children. We can never be separate from God, because God is always here. Spiritual light is always here. The Christmas light and love are always here.
As I grew up and studied more of Christian Science, I began to understand what Mary Baker Eddy said in her writings about Christmas: “Again loved Christmas is here, full of divine benedictions and crowned with the dearest memories in human history—the earthly advent and nativity of our Lord and Master. At this happy season the veil of time springs aside at the touch of Love” (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 256 ). Elsewhere, she said: “The basis of Christmas is the rock, Christ Jesus; its fruits are inspiration and spiritual understanding of joy and rejoicing,—not because of tradition, usage, or corporeal pleasures, but because of fundamental and demonstrable truth, because of the heaven within us. The basis of Christmas is love loving its enemies, returning good for evil, love that ‘suffereth long, and is kind’ ” (Miscellany, p. 260 ).
During World War II we had family members and friends serving in the military and stationed in far-away countries. In order for Christmas packages to arrive on time, we had to prepare boxes for shipping in September. As we wrapped small gifts to go overseas, my mother would say she was sending God’s message of love, peace, harmony, and happiness. It was a time filled with joy and spiritual giving. Expecting nothing in return, of course, she was pleasantly surprised when those receiving the packages wrote back letters of gratitude for being remembered.
I realized then that Christmas isn’t just on December 25, but is all year round. And I began to think more deeply about this Christly love, which is ours to express every day of every year. The tradition of family gatherings at this particular time of the year reminds us of the love that God has for all of us. Those without families are also embraced in His love. They can feel the comfort and presence of the Christ that is available to everyone everywhere, in all countries, cities, communities, and homes.
The blessed event of the holy birth can be realized every day and can be accepted into our lives at any point. Knowing and feeling the Christ with us always is the greatest gift of all. Christmas is the reminder of God’s loving relationship with every one of us.
