It’s time to reflect

Christmas has always been both my favorite and my least favorite season. There’s something magical about it, the lights, the music, the sense that something special is in the air, but at the same time, it can feel overwhelming. In today’s world, Christmas often turns into a nonstop rush. It feels like there’s always something you’re supposed to be doing next, with barely a moment to slow down and breathe.

Social media doesn’t help. Everywhere you look, it seems like everyone else is having the “perfect” Christmas: hosting a friends Christmas party, ice skating with their boyfriend, baking cookies, caroling, decorating flawlessly, and somehow affording it all. Without even realizing it, you start to feel like you’re falling behind if your season doesn’t look like that. There’s pressure to buy the perfect gifts, to spend money you may not even have, and to keep up appearances just to prove you’re enjoying the season the “right” way. On top of that, the end of the year brings its own weight. It’s a time when we naturally reflect, and sometimes that reflection comes with disappointments; goals that weren’t met, plans that didn’t work out, and quiet worries about what needs to change next year. Corporations know this stress all too well. They take advantage of it, marking things as “on sale” and convincing us we’re saving money, when often we’re spending more than we planned simply because it feels expected.

Somewhere in all this busyness, it’s easy to forget why Christmas matters in the first place. And while it may sound like the ending of a Christmas movie, there’s truth in it. Christmas began as a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Santa Claus himself was inspired by St. Nicholas, who was known not for excess, but for generosity and kindness. At its core, the season was meant to be about giving, gratitude and love.

Christmas was never supposed to be about being constantly entertained or having the most exciting plans. It was about slowing down, spending time with family and friends, and simply enjoying one another’s presence without pressure or expectations. It’s about appreciating what we already have and remembering the greatest gift of all: God sending His Son so that we could experience forgiveness, grace and hope. 

When everything else is stripped away, Christmas invites us to rest, to reflect, and to be grateful. Maybe it doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. Maybe it’s enough to be present, to give with a willing heart, and to let the season be a reminder of love rather than stress.