'Tis the Season!
Merry Christmas Guys!
If you are in the Southern Hemisphere I hope your Christmas day has been relaxing. If you are with my family in the North, I hope it isn't too cold for you this Christmas Eve. No matter where you are, I hope everyone is surrounded by the company of loved ones.
Normally for me the lead up to Christmas is exciting. This year it seemed to have the worst and longest lead up. Everyone I talked to was simply exhausted. For some reason, 2016 took its toll on me. Three years of study coming to an end meant that I now had to work more - bye-bye allowance. I think it also meant that all the tiredness I didn't have time to deal with was finally catching up. To top it off I was having homesickness like never-before experienced. This year was just ALOT!
In the midst of all this I needed to remind myself why we even have a holiday in the first place. I grew up in a Christian home so the story of Baby Jesus has been well engraved into my memory. Not going to lie, as a kid the Christmas story was so overdone (sorry mum lol) that somewhere along the way I kind of stopped listening to the true message. As an adult I have my own interpretation. No matter what your beliefs are, the birth of Jesus was the first 'Christmas present, the world received. From birth to death, his life was full of courage, listening, sacrifice and giving. He always made time for people. It didn't matter who they were, Jesus had time for them.
I find that Christmas has turned into a time that isn't actually centred around spending time with people. Gifts, full bellys and 'donation acknowledgement' have become the main focus yet they don't create the most long lasting and sincere memories. Now don't get me wrong, gifts and food are GREAAAAT!!! Food is a universal place to be able to spend time with people, while gifts are great at making everyone feel loved. However, I don't remember a large majority of gifts I was given or meals I had eaten in my past Christmas'. I do remember the joy that came with having backyard water fights, making puzzles or cozying up watching movies with my whole family (all 50+ of them lol).
I write this only as a reminder to cherish the ones we love. We lose people every year and it isn't until holidays or big events come around that we realise time spent with our loved ones is the best way for it to be spent at all. This could be in the kitchen preparing the Christmas feast, I always hear the happiest of laughs come from aunties in the kitchen chatting away. Simply putting down our phones (guilty) is enough to provide meaningful conversations to last the day. Or it could just be getting out in the yard and doing what the weather allows! No matter what your beliefs are, take a leaf out of Jesus book and give time to those around you.
Be safe out there!
Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
With Love,
Lydia x
Photo by Tobias Saul.
