Bible Verse: Matthew 1:21
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. (King James Bible Online, n.d.)
December 11, 2025
Are you ready to celebrate Christmas?
Christmas, on the surface, is the most visible celebration of the year. It is the only holiday that shuts down the operations of large companies, requires the closure of the world’s largest retailers, and shuts the doors of most restaurants. Christmas is so visible that decorating begins immediately after Halloween, overshadowing the humble November holiday of Thanksgiving. On the first day of November, it is common to see Christmas trees light up the windows of homes, with yards becoming brightly shining decorated Christmas beacons. The lights of Christmas are so bright that they cannot be missed or ignored.
Christmas is also the most time-consuming of all the holidays. Let us begin with a quick list of shopping options: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. Technically, you can spend time year-round shopping in preparation for Christmas. Beyond shopping, there are numerous community events, including holiday home tours, holiday cookie/gingerbread decorating contests, wreath-making, markets, festivals, parades, caroling, and breakfast with Santa, among others. Also, companies host holiday parties, dinners, and gift exchanges. Churches offer Christmas plays, fruit basket deliveries, and outdoor nativity scenes. Participating in these activities can be enjoyable. However, they can also be stressful. You can be overwhelmed by deciding how to spend your time and with whom to spend it.
Why is Christmas invisible?
The invisibility of Christmas did not happen overnight. The erosion of celebrating the true meaning of Christmas is a process that has been developing over many years. The commercialization, busyness, and stress have made the original reason for Christmas, the birth of Jesus, invisible.
For me, it began at my job. Before I got sick, I worked at Walmart pharmacy. I do not have the specific year it occurred, but I will never forget how I felt after reading the company email. The email notified employees that we were no longer allowed to greet customers by saying “Merry Christmas.” The permissible greeting was to use “Happy Holidays.” The email also notified us that failure to follow the new policy would result in repercussions. I needed my job and had a decision to make. I decided that if I could not greet anyone with “Merry Christmas,” I would just stay silent. I gave no greeting at all to customers other than the typical daily words “Hello,” “Bye,” and “Thank you.” The silence of my faith was the beginning of Christmas becoming invisible in my life.
The invisibility of Christmas continued as I became so busy with shopping and activities that by the time Christmas day came, I was too exhausted to enjoy it. I focused on spending time buying the right gifts, and I lost sight of the only gift that matters, the birth of Jesus.
Additionally, I spent time with the church youth group caroling and delivering fruit baskets. I managed the church youth Christmas play. I baked Christmas cookies and items for Christmas dinners with family. Eventually, I looked around at all the items that consumed my time, and I did not see the birth of Jesus in any of them.
Faith
After being diagnosed with Lyme disease and POTS, Christmas took on a more meaningful perspective. Several years passed, and I was physically unable to participate in family Christmas dinners or open presents. I was unable to go shopping. I could not attend church. Due to the illness, I gained a deeper perspective on what I truly needed for Christmas and why I celebrate it.
What do you want for Christmas?
My answer to this question was, “What I want for Christmas you can’t buy.”
I wanted my health restored. I wanted my suffering to end. I wanted to live an everyday life again. I wanted to feel happy and have peace. What I wanted for Christmas could not be purchased from a shelf, wrapped, and put under a tree.
