With Christmas just around the corner, I am sure we are all anxiously awaiting what that special day to so many will bring. December 25th will look different to each of us whether it’s waking up early to see what presents lie under the tree, eating a special dinner with our friends and family, or having those who we miss or admire closest to our hearts and flooding our thoughts. However our Christmas may look, remember that having somewhere to go is home, having someone to love is family and having both is a blessing.
As I am sure we have all heard a thousand times, there is so much more to this holiday than the presents, decorations and music. It’s about spending time with those you love and cherishing those memories that we are sure to make. One of my favorite quotes by Dr. Suess is “Sometimes you never know the value of a moment, until it becomes a memory”. Therefore, take advantage of your time with those you love because you may never know when those cherished moments become a distant memory. Every year, my family would go to my grandma’s house in Tennessee for Christmas. In 2013, my family was making its way across the country to spend another holiday in one of my personal favorite places. Sadly, we got a call that would forever change my view on Christmas. My grandaddy had passed away, days before we were supposed to be happily opening our presents and eating that amazing Christmas ham. My Christmas is no longer filled with endless games of dominoes with my granddaddy, but the memory of what sweet victory felt like. It’s no longer filled with his old timey laughter, but with the laughter that stems from the memories we will never forget. So, when I say this time is about cherishing the time you have with your family and friends, I mean it. I’m not trying to preach that cliché saying, “The real reason for the season”. I speak from experience that I wish I had never had, but has shaped me into knowing more about life than I ever thought I would.
This season is about giving and I am not talking about giving someone the bike of their dreams. I am talking about the kind of giving that may often go unnoticed. This kind of giving comes from deep within and is more about what we can give without intense Christmas shopping. It’s about shoveling snow off your neighbor’s drive, helping someone with their groceries and even something as small as offering a smile to a stranger while walking down the street. These little things that happen every day are the type of giving that truly matters. It means more to give someone all that you have, than to give someone a sliver of what is hiding within. Of course, when I say giving someone all that you have, I am referring to the notion that several small things can create something beautiful. Making the world a beautiful place is something we should strive for every day.
I hope that you can find your true meaning of Christmas. I can almost promise you that when you reflect on what means the most to you about this holiday, it will not be the presents, decorations or music. It will be those family traditions, special holiday dishes, and the memories you have made with the ones you love the most.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas,
Bailey Sipes