Christmas is all joy, presents and food, but only the best of it is about something more: love.

The best of Christmas is the love that is given from family and friends. That is why it seems so hard for me to understand how others may feel when they lose a loved one or are going through something so difficult that makes them miss Christmas. There are many families this year who have lost their children to the pain of suicide, discrimination and brutality. Families all around the world are terrified of what the future brings to them because of financial, economic or political problems.

The best gift of Christmas is the ability to still love. To love those who have harmed, destroyed and broken you. Ones who have never believed in you and only wanted the worst for you. And those who you know can only be doomed to fail you. The best of Christmas is to try to love memories as well. Though it has been a very hard year, try to love 2016 for whatever positive thing it has given you. Try to love 2016 the way you love your family as it has been a year of hardship and pain. Love is the only thing to celebrate as it is the best gift.