Christmas Through the Eyes ...

Christmas AweIt’s the holiday season! Finally it is here, and even though snow is sparse, holiday spirit is filling homes, streets, churches, and stores as we prepare for the celebration of Christmas. Trust me, as a mom of three little ones, the task list around the holidays is long and wide, between the Christmas decorations, trimming the tree, goofy Christmas pictures to go on the Christmas card, Christmas letters, and of course, baking the tasty treats are tough to fit in between all of the holiday gatherings! Worse yet is that the holiday season is often the toughest time for a family or individual to get through after suffering the loss of a loved one, as holiday memories of old make the upcoming season a bit hard to bear. It’s definitely easy to get a little bogged down this time of year for so many reasons.

Then I watch the eyes of my two year old as she takes the vision of a fully decorated Christmas tree for the very first time she can remember. The glimmer of lights shimmer in her eyes wide open, staring at each ornament trying to find objects recognizable to her. Ooh, there’s Frosty the Snowman, there’s Cinderella, there’s Anna, and Santa, too! Adelyn’s eyes dance brightly from the lights to the ornaments to the gigantic bow glistening in gold at the top. Taking in every detail, clasping her hands and dancing in delight, this holiday moment is truly magical through the eyes of a child. What can we adults do to re-capture the magic of Christmas? Take some time this holiday season to see the same old aspects of the season in a brand new way through the eyes of a child.  Through the eyes of a new widow. Through the eyes of a mom and dad who have lost a child. Through the eyes of someone happy to be alive, or counting down the days given by a medical diagnosis. Or even through the eyes of Jesus long ago, or the eyes of the Son of God this very day. Do you see something different? Something brighter, lighter, more beautiful? Something to be thankful for? Memories both difficult and sweet?

Although it’s easy to fall into this trap, don’t be a zombie walking through this holiday season with blinders on, intent on crossing off every task on your to-do list, unaware of everyone around you. Instead, feel what Christmas is all about, and use those feelings to help out someone else along the way who may not feel like celebrating this year. Come alongside them and give them what they need. A hug, a card, a Christmas carol. Food, clothes, a monetary gift. Your time, listening to stories, and looking at old photos. Make this Christmas meaningful by giving to others, and you will reap the reward multiplied and get a taste of what it must have been like to be born, live, and die in a selfless act of love for all of mankind. And isn’t that what the season is about?

Merry Christmas and many wishes of health and happiness in the New Year!

Jill
Jill Murphy
Owner/Physical Therapist
MotionWorks Physical Therapy