For the last few years, every time December rolls around, I haven’t really... felt it. You know, the Christmas spirit. That rising glee as ...

The True Meaning of the Christmas Spirit

Alexa Mintah

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For the last few years, every time December rolls around, I haven’t really... felt it. You know, the Christmas spirit. That rising glee as December 25th approaches, that spark of excitement every time you see an evergreen, the delight of hearing all the radio stations suddenly change their tune—literally—to speak of Santa and shepherds and all the other things that make up this holiday. I haven’t felt any of it. And it wasn’t a slow waning either: in 2013, I was an adorable small, skipping to the radio the second Thanksgiving was over to be the first to hear Feliz Navidad. 2014 rolled around and I couldn’t stand half the songs I used to love; the other half, I didn’t hate, I just wasn’t in the mood for them at the time (I did randomly crave them in July, though, so go figure).

A part of me was depressed at all this. I wanted to be excited about the holidays, the gifts, the vacation time, the music, the food (you know what, scratch that; I’m actually still excited about the food), but I just couldn’t bring myself to actually feel it the way I used to. As 2014 wrapped up and that Christmas was only a day or two away, I gave up and chalked it up to growing up; but every year, I still kind of waited. A part of me accepted it, but each year after Thanksgiving, another part of me paused, eyes squinted and fingers crossed, to feel that childlike thrill shining its way into my soul as Christmas loomed into sight.

Nothing.

So I sighed, went through the motions of enjoying the holiday as best as I could, got my biggest high on the actual Christmas Day (though it was quick to fall the day after), and moved on.

But this year, as I realized that yet again I wasn’t going to feel all “Christmasy,” I had a sudden realization: I might be growing up, in an unfortunate and inescapable way, but the Christmas Spirit isn’t what I’m missing.

In spite of finding less excitement in the season, I wasn’t going through the motions when it came to the holiday; I was going through the motions when it came to the traditions. The decorations, the parties, the carols, that sort of thing. In my opinion, some of it is pretty (read Pentatonix Christmas compilations and the Christmas tree), but a lot of it is... almost tedious (read basically everything else with a few exceptions I’ll think of as soon as this post goes live).

I enjoy getting gifts for my siblings, seeing their faces when they open them, and watching them play with the gifts throughout the year, but there’s not a whole lot I want for myself. There are things I’d like, of course, and I won’t argue if someone wants to give them to me, but if I don’t get them, I know I’ll make it to December 26th, lol. I don’t have the same desperate need for EVERYTHING ON MY LIST that I did when I was a kid.

Some people go all out with their decorations and it looks really good... but I have no interest in being a part of anything beyond a tree, some lights, and maybe a nativity scene. As for the parties, they’re nice and I actually don’t hate them, but I’ve realized that I go more for my extroverted friends who want to see me and less for meenjoying the party itself. Plus, I’m busy, and whether it’s a good thing or not (I’m super Type A), I don’t really want to stop for anything.

In all honesty, food is the only thing about Christmas that I get really excited about (as bad as that may sound). Because for some ridiculous reason we’ve decided to only eat this good once or twice a year. Pfft. Silly people.

via GIPHY

Well, actually, I get excited about food and one other thing.

Many of you probably noticed that I haven’t talked about the actual reason for the season yet: the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I have not lost my excitement about Him. It doesn’t show in the obvious ways, because I don’t always show real emotions in real life; but I know that I know that my love for my Savior, the thrill over His first coming, is still very much alive in my heart. The thankfulness that He deemed you and me not worthy but still worth Him giving up all His majesty and all His glory and coming down to us in the form of a child. So that He could grow up among us, be tempted the same ways we are yet never sin, to show us His understanding and His love, deeply, truly, genuinely (Hebrews 4:14-16).

And then to die. Because He knew that we needed to be saved and He loved us enough to do it at the cost of such incredible pain (Philippians 2:5-8). That is something I have not forgotten and never intend to—not during Christmas or any other time of the year.

To be clear, I don’t write this post to toot my own horn about how steeped the world has become in pagan traditions and how we’re all focused on the wrong things and I’m so spiritual for focusing on the Lord instead. In fact, if you do feel really “Christmasy,” I think that’s wonderful! I kinda wish that I still did.

But I write this post for anyone experiencing the same thing as me—a kind of jaded, out-of-touch feeling with all the traditions but maybe not with the Savior—so that you would know that, one, you aren’t alone. And two, you’re okay. You don’t have to get excited every time you hear a Christmas song or see a lawn decked out with elves and reindeer. You can even groan inwardly the next time someone invites you to an ugly sweater party. So long as you keep the true spirit of Christmas, the Holy Spirit, first in your heart all year long, you are 100% okay. You have a hope deep down in your soul that will never alter, no matter how you feel (Hebrews 6:19), and because of this, you’re good. Truly good. And not just in my eyes, but in the eyes of our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, the Lord of Heaven and Savior of Humanity.

Original Photo Credit: Pixabay

Remember, dears, that you are amazing, cherished, and loved. Hope you all have a fantastic Christmas, whether you’re into every piece of the holiday or not.

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