Remember when you were a little kid on Christmas morning? You would make your parents get up, run down the stairs and start attacking presents. There was always a special spirit of Christmas in the atmosphere for the entirety of December. As I’ve gotten older, it seems to have disappeared. Here are six things that happen when it just doesn't feel like Christmas:
1. Realizing it’s almost Christmas and trying to get excited.
December 1st should actually be Christmas 1st because that’s the way everyone acts. Christmas music blares on every radio, ugly sweaters are displayed in store windows, Hallmark features the endless supply of Christmas movies and hot cocoa always sounds perfect. But none of it excites you like it once did.
2. Decorating the tree is just too much effort.
Your parents wait until you finally get to come home on Thanksgiving weekend, and the tree is being brought out as soon as your car pulls into the driveway. Did the tree get bigger this year or am I just lazy? Why are we decorating a tree that will either be taken down on New Year's Eve or left up until the middle of February? It’s like Christmas tree roulette.
3. Buying presents makes you feel broke.
If I’m technically an adult, does that mean I should buy the little kids presents? I want to get stuff for my friends too. And coworkers. And my 3 Secret Santa people. My pets need presents too. Wait, why do I have $2.37 in my bank account?
4. It doesn’t help that you don’t know what to ask for.
“What do you want for Christmas?” basically means “Give me a list of things to buy.” Well, Uncle Bob, you can’t buy a high GPA, months of sleep, a hot boyfriend and a healthy mental state. We both know you’ll buy me Itunes gift cards anyways.
5. When people assume you hate Christmas.
I still love the idea of Christmas. It isn’t a holiday, it is a lifestyle. Sadly, the spirit of the season has gradually abandoned me and it sucks. I promise I’m not a Grinch and you won’t catch me saying, “Bah humbug!” whatsoever. I wish I could be happy about Christmas, but I’m just not.
6. Remembering the real meaning of Christmas.
Everyone gets caught up in all of the shopping, singing, cooking, parties, etc. and we forget why we celebrate Christmas. It’s about Jesus, not us. Maybe the reason why Christmas feels different is that the focus is on the wrong person: myself.
“We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
