By Brother Juwan Lanham
Christmas is a holiday that always brings surprises. When I was young, Christmas was more about being good so that you would be visited by Santa Clause and receive presents. Looking at old videos that were taped on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day sometimes gives me a shock. The notion of how I would react when thinking of some guy coming into my house to give me loads of presents due to my good behavior. When I think on it now I find it funny and strange, though I salute my parents keeping the secret going for so long! It was not until I was a teenager going into high school that I figured out Santa Clause was not real. I was devastated, but now I just laugh at the mere thought that I believed in such a thing for so long. Because even when I was young, I knew the actual reason for the season, and that was to celebrate the birth of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, I am amazed at how I was so entranced by the whole Santa Clause ordeal.
The song “Santa Clause is coming to Town” just makes you really ponder about how the world has tried to find a way to divert the actual reason for Christmas, because you cannot have Christmas without Christ. Still, as a child I was not really thinking of it like that. I just saw the holiday as a way of getting presents. If I was good, I knew I would receive tons of gifts in my stocking and under the Christmas tree. I still do not understand how an evergreen fir tree helps to celebrate Christ when evergreens were not in Bethlehem. Fir trees maybe, but not evergreen fir trees. I did some research on them and found out that to some Christians, an evergreen fir tree means everlasting life with God. But we know that Jesus is the only way to having everlasting life with God. So again it shows how man has tried to divert Christmas into what they want it to be about.
When I was young I thought it was more fitting to receive than to give because as a child you do not really have a mind set to give to anyone, especially if you were the first born. I remember receiving so many gifts that I could not fit all of them in my room, so they had to be kept in the basement in the storage closet. Do not get me wrong though, I was no spoiled little brat that did not like to share toys and things with nobody. I was taught better than that. I was spoiled, but was still grateful and appreciative of what was given to me, especially during Christmas. I cherished every toy and present that was given to me – clothes and all! I mean, I was not as eager to get clothes compared to toys, but I still appreciated them and wore them until I could not fit them anymore.
My Christmas’s have always been exciting and surprising, even as I got older and my siblings came along, which meant I did not receive as many presents as I used to. I still was surprised with gifts that sometimes I did not believe could even be given due to financial situations. I hand it to my parents and thank the Lord because they never seemed to fail when it came down to Christmas presents. Now that I am older I tend to dwell more on the sentimental and celebration part of the holiday rather than just just expecting presents. I actually celebrate Christmas and dwell on the good things that come out of it, such as feelings of joy, peace, togetherness, and giving just to name a few. I rather give than receive. Christmas has had its ups and downs, but I can say this to all of them: God is good! I thank Him for sending His Son. He is faithful in all His ways. I thank Him for my family and I look forward to every year to see what surprises He brings to my family and me. So I conclude saying this, I hope your Christmas’ were blessed as mine were and I hope this Christmas is blessed as well. Merry Christmas everyone!