What is Christmas?

I just took out my choir robe from the wardrobe. It is a long robe and I dread how the ends get all wrinkled everytime I store it for too long. I am not keen to open up the ironing board and iron it. So, let’s hope the creases will disappear by tomorrow morning. If it doesn’t, who cares. It is not like people are going to stare at my feet, counting the creases on the pleats.

My eldest son has some party to attend and after baking a batch of cakes and creampuffs with his friends, they have gone to the party. My second son now gets the sorethroat from too much caroling. For the last two nights, he only return home at 1 am. He and his youth group really enjoyed themselves and he told me, they even got tipsy from drinking red wine at one of the home they went to last night.

My two younger boys are watching some movie on TV. We have taken our dinner. Contrary to previous years, I didn’t make a big fuss of the Christmas eve dinner. Since I am not around to mother hen them into the Christmas mood, it is just another balmy, evening at home.

I hope my #2 son will be able to wake up soon so that both of us can go celebrate the Christmas Eve’s mass at church. If he wakes up and doesn’t feel well enough, then, I shall also skip church. I am not keen to go alone on a night when people attend with families. I hate the questions, “Where are your kids?”

To many families, Christmas is probably about getting gifts. To my family, the kids get gifts whenever and wherever. It is just not our family tradition to have nicely wrapped gifts under the tree. We got the little boy a box of Lego last night and he had already opened and assembled them, unable to wait for Christmas.

So, what exactly is Christmas to me? Not much. How exciting or how enjoyable it is, it depends on me. I only come to this realisation yesterday. With me out of the slave, work and grind circle, there is no one to pump the Christmas mood into the others, whether in my family, my siblings side or my in-laws side So, be it. In a way, I am glad this working mule has been grounded by the flu bug. Otherwise, I thought the world revolves on its own. Indeed it is not. It is moves by me. Heh, powerful.

Therefore, Christmas 2008 is the year when I know that there is no Christmas unless there is me. For that, I thank God for the good health He bestows on me and thank God for the little blessings. Never mind that there is no turkey this year or fanciful finger foods or rich cakes to enjoy. There is always another year, another better year with better health. This year, I learn that the world doesn’t stop and die just because we didn’t celebrate Christmas like others. It is no big deal, yo. I am sure there are millions of homes out there who couldn’t celebrate Christmas due to one reason or the other.

The most important thing to remember tonight, before the clock strikes twelve is to remember God’s generousity is giving His only begotten Son to the world. It is also important to remember Mary’s obedience to God’s will. And it is important to remember how blessed we are to know the Baby Jesus who came to earth so we may have the second chance.

Blessed Christmas to all and May God’s peace be upon you.