I don't know what it is exactly, but I just love Christmas time. Could it be because I live in New England and the cold weather just lends itself to the "real" feel of the holidays coming and then the lights and trees start going up all around you and you have no escape from it? Could it be the music and the Christmas decorations that miraculously appear now up to two weeks before Thanksgiving? Possibly a bit of that brings it out in me.
Although I remember loving Christmas as a child, the feeling I would get Christmas Eve when we would get one present to open, and it was always a new pair of PJ's to wear. It was a small tradition my mother started and it was always expected. Then we would go to bed and stare at the ceiling trying to go to sleep, but knowing that Santa was on his way gave us a rush that slumber could not touch. No matter how much sleep you did or did not get you would jump out of bed at some ungodly hour and run to the living room that had overnight transformed into this magical and beautiful land of perfectly wrapped packages that sparkled under the glow of the tree. The milk we left for Santa would be almost gone and one lonely half eaten cookie would be on the plate. All of these things let us know that Santa had enjoyed his visit in the Fitzpatrick home. Over the years as all things do, things changed as we grew, however the magic of what Christmas was always stayed in my heart.
As I got older I also learned more about what the holiday was to my family and the struggles that came with making Christmas special for us. I saw how hard my mother and father worked to provide for us and to make sure that we had the presents under the tree. However I also learned just how much faith my mother had and that it was just not about Santa and the presents, but about Jesus and our Christian faith. All of these things molded who I am today and allow me to continue to see the beauty in this world even though it does get clouded with all that is around us from time to time. This time of year is a time for us to reflect on all that we have, to spend time with those that we love and to cherish every moment. It is not a surprise to me that my nana passed away shortly after Christmas from cancer when I was 18. I cannot think of a more beautiful time of year to peacefully leave this world.
As I look forward to Christmas this year and reflect on all that I have and the abundance of blessings in my life, I will remember that even without the lights, and Christmas carols and presents wrapped under the tree that the joy in my heart is something I can take with me throughout the year. That Christmas cheer can be an everyday occurrence.
Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale
