Will B. Merry
‘Tis the season, as they say. I have never been one of those who go all out for Christmas. For me, I enjoy a nice cozy Christmas with those I hold close to my heart. This year will be the first year I will be enjoying Christmas with kids. Not quite my kids yet but I look forward to a time when what I feel in my heart for them matches up with the label of my kids. My hope is to be accepted as a father figure by the three children that come along with my fianceé and the woman I love. Either way, in my heart they are becoming my children slowly over time.
For me, Christmas is about family and our Savior Jesus Christ’s birth, the real spirit of Christmas if you ask me. I enjoyed my share of Christmases that were full of commercialization, presents to the roof and the whole shebang. I guess for me, Christmas was ruined in that regard because of years of working for big box retailers, Walmart and Home Depot, both great companies to work for, believe it or not. It was what I saw out of customers during the Christmas season and the commercialization of the holidays that sounded the death knell of that type of Christmas.
I am not complaining. I am actually very grateful for having that type of Christmas ruined; it allowed me to remember the real meaning behind Christmas. Just like anyone else, I was caught in what the media and corporations wanted the public to think of as what Christmas was about: presents, hustle and bustle. Debt was okay because it was for Christmas presents for others - you get the point.
The greatest gift anyone could have received happened on Christmas; Jesus Christ was born, such an amazing story. He was born into flesh to die on the cross for our sins so that we may be saved. It blows my mind when I take a moment and think about all Jesus did for me. I am not worthy but because God loves me so much, he sacrificed his son for me, wow! How can anyone not be excited and amazed at that!
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” I will love those around me but if you do not believe that we just can not be friends. This is what I’m about and people who believe this are my people and I want to surround myself with them. This is Will B saying, take a moment or two or even an hour out of your day on Christmas and remember the real reason behind the season.