The True Meaning of Christmas

The true meaning of Christmas. Now, I’m not talking about the birth of Jesus or anything related to that.  The true meaning of Christmas is the gift of giving.

That may sound cliche, but during tough times like the country has had lately, the saying remains true. We had to deal with Hurricane Sandy in November, which devastated the country and will take time to regroup from. This holiday season might be one of the most important of all. While everyone is preparing for the holidays, we are reminded of the Sandy Hook victims and how they won’t be able to spend the holidays with their families and the children won’t be able to excitedly open presents on Christmas morning.

The holiday season is the best time to lend a hand. It is also known as the season of giving, meaning it is a good time to go above and beyond for others. Of course, good deeds should be done all year round, but everyone is in good spirits because of the great feeling that comes along with the holidays. One of the easiest ways to help out is to participate in the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign, where volunteers stand outside of stores (such as Walmart) with a red kettle and accept donations. When I was younger, my mom would always give me some spare change to slip into the bucket as we entered the store. Sometimes the volunteers would have little candy canes, which was also a little added bonus for me.

Most parents want their children to have the best Christmas they can, but recent financial hardships may make that difficult for some people. Around school, there are little trees set up that have papers with a child’s name and age on them. These are for children whose parents might not be able to afford much. It’s like you’re being a Santa to a young child, spending a little of your money to brighten up their Christmas. Knowing that you made a difference in a child’s life is a heart-warming experience. Helping others during this time adds to the spirit of the holidays.

Instead of asking for iPads, new phones or new computers (do people really need ALL three of those?), lend a hand to others and donate a little of what you have to make someone else feel as lucky as you do. A six-year-old once told me that she knew that “Christmas is for giving, not getting.” If a six-year-old knows this, shouldn’t the rest of us?