Re-LIVE Your Passion: A Meaningful Christmas

I was watching TV yesterday night and I came across a Santa Claus movie. Although it was quite an entertaining show which tells the life of Santa and his family as if they really exists, I feel that the world is really being disillusioned and enticed until many of us do not realise the true meaning of Christmas. Why we celebrate Christmas in the first place? To be frank, when I was young, I didn't know the meaning of Christmas.

Last Christmas, my sister gave me a small booklet entitled 'Our Daily Bread - The Gift of Christmas'. There is a paragraph that we can relate to the situation these days.

Two women, dressed in their finest, were having lunch together in an exclusive restaurant. A friend saw them and came over to greet them. " What's the special occasion?" she asked. One of the women said, " We're having a birthday party for a baby in our family. He's 2 years old today." "But, where is the baby?" the friend asked. The child's mother answered, "Oh, I dropped him off at my mother's house. She's taking care of him until the party's over. It wouldn't have been any fun with him along".

As said in the booklet, it is totally ridiculous that the birthday baby wasn't welcomed at his own party. Well, Christmas is just the same. A line in the booklet that says : When you stop to think of it, that's no more foolish than going through the Christmas season, with all of its festivities, without remembering the One whose birth we are supposed to be honoring.

I was having my December holidays in KL and Singapore recently. Decorations and lights were all set in shopping malls and even on the streets for the joyous season of Christmas. With Ho, ho, ho heard from a far and the sleigh bells ringing, I am really struck by the thought of Christmas isn't really Christmas until it happens in your heart. What is Christmas?

I wasn't born in a Christian family and when I was a child, Christmas wasn't much of a celebration. But anyway, somehow, the feeling of Christmas is always there in me but I was unclear why. Even during my childhood, Christmas is one of the dates I'm always waiting for. Never did I believe in Santa when I was young but Christmas was all about the the winter snowflakes, the tree and the gifts due to the over-commercialised Christmas celebration. So, because of it, the Christmas that I was celebrating as a child isn't really Christmas. I didn't know what Christmas is really for until Christ came into my life. Deep inside, day by day, I feel truly blessed. 25 December isn't the actual date of birth of Jesus Christ, but it is a day we celebrate His birth. No matter how grand a celebration is, a Christmas celebration with Jesus in mind is truly a more meaningful one.

There's a song called, "Happy Birthday Jesus" sang by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and Singers. My sisters and I adore the voice of the child who sang the opening of the song because it's just so cute. But it's the lyrics of the song that really matters.

Happy birthday Jesus I'm so glad its Christmas All the tinsel and lights And the presents are nice But the real gift is You.
Happy birthday Jesus I'm so glad its Christmas All the carols and bells Make the holiday swell And it's all about You Happy birthday Jesus Jesus I love You!