He dropped by my classroom to let me know and I wanted to cry.
No Christmas tree? How was it supposed to feel like Christmas without a tree, without hot chocolate, without scarves and boots, without the mall, without friends and family? Something wild possessed me. I wanted to take every little bit of Christmas that I HAD set up, down. I wanted nothing to do with Christmas and hence my crazy Facebook post. Exhibit A: don't post things when you are emotional, kids.
But for some of the kids in my class, this is their Christmas every year. They don't need a tree. They don't know anything about Black Friday and Christmas shopping at the mall. Forget hot chocolate and warm clothes, it's too hot for that nonsense.
And then a moment of clarity came to me. (Praise the Lord) Is it really only Christmas if I have those things?
Yikes. I felt like I was in an alternate ending of the movie The Grinch (my favorite). In the end, the people still came together, sang, ate, and enjoyed each other's company, even without all their stuff. But the Grinch would've stole my Christmas if I lived in Whoville! I wouldn't be one of those happy people singing around the tree at the end of the movie. Yikes again.
Ashamedly, I have to admit, Jesus was not the reason for my season. Having almost all the "traditional" Christmas things taken away from me, I felt like it didn't matter, and became a Grinch. Oh, how Satan wants us to be so consumed that we lose focus on the real gift this Christmas.
But I'm so glad I've come around. And now this quote from my favorite Christmas movie is even sweeter.
"It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes, or bags! Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."
Christmas will come without ribbons, tags, packages, and bags. Christmas will come because HE is the reason for the season. My husband has joked to me about cutting down a tree for us this year instead. But whether or not that happens, I'll be just fine. :)
May your Christmas spirit be found in the love, joy, and hope of the sweet, baby Jesus this holiday season.
Xo,
Rachel
