Christmas Joy-A Perfect Christmas Isn’t About All the Things

Thinking about what makes a perfect Christmas and what puts Christmas in our hearts, I realize, today, I already have the things that make Christmas perfect. In fact, I have them all year long, not just in December.

While thinking about the perfect Christmas, I ponder. What is the usual list of characters that make Christmases merry?

I look around my house and I see all the things. Of course, I see all the beauty Christmas-time offers. And these things give me joy. Yes, I have joy in my heart while I am decorating. I have joy in my heart while I am shopping. And, I especially have joy in my heart when I am giving.

Deck the Halls

All the usual Christmas joy, tied up pretty with a beautiful bow. And little twinkle lights. It all adds to my holiday enjoyment.

Christmas joy, to me, looks like a Christmas tree beautifully decorated. Joy is gifts under the tree, beautifully wrapped in shiny Christmas paper, (or in my case—paper with weenie dogs in Santa hats!). Christmas movies playing in the background, even though I’ve seen them over and over.

Ah, the joys of the season.

Joy is cookies baking in the oven. (Well, not right now, but can’t you smell it?) The house decorated from floor to ceiling with red and green. And, Christmas joy is little twinkle lights in every room. (I mean every room!)

While all these things make me merry, these are all just things. It is prettier and more enjoyable with all these joyful things, but still—only things.

These joys add to the spirit of Christmas—they don’t make or break it.

If we had all the things without what is important to us, there would be no joy. There would be no joy.

“When we recall the past, we usually find that it is the simplest things – not the great occasions – that in retrospect give off the greatest glow of happiness.” – Bob Hope

All I Want For Christmas Is You

The opposite works though. If you have your family with you, but Christmas isn’t all wrapped up in a shiny bow, you can still find the joy. Perhaps not as pretty, but joy is there. It is in the hearts of those who are together.

 I realize, today, I already have the things that make Christmas perfect. In fact, I have them all year-long, not just in December.

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In Christmases past, when Christmas wasn’t as pretty, my family still had joy. I had to look harder for Christmas joy. I had to Be Still to feel it, but in the end, I always did. I always found the Christmas joy. Not because of what was under the tree, or what wasn’t, but because who was around the tree.

You know the sweet, cheesy Christmas movies we all enjoy? They seem to find joy in Christmas without all the sparkle, without all the twinkle lights? Christmas is in the air, without all the stuff. The spirit of Christmas is there, not because of the stuff, but because of the people. The people in our lives. The people we hold dear.

I promise, if we have all the stuff, all the things, all the twinkle lights—without all the people in our lives that bring pure Christmas joy to our hearts—there would be no spirit in our hearts. There would be no Christmas in the air if we had no family and friends to celebrate with.

At Christmas or year-round.

“Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn’t come from a store.” – Dr. Seuss

The spirit lives within us because of the greatest gift ever given, not because of shiny packages under the tree. Without the true reason for the season, without loved ones to share the season (and reason), there would be no Christmas in the air or in your heart.

Christmas can and should be in your heart year-round. We should have the joy, the magic, with us daily. We don’t need a pretty Christmas tree in our living room (or in every room!) to have Christmas in the air. Right?

I’ll admit, it sure makes it prettier. But that is all.

'Christmas is perfect, not because of what is under the tree, or what isn't, but because who is around the tree.' -dedra davis Click To Tweet

Think about this while you are trying to make Christmas perfect for the ones around you. Be thankful you have a reason to celebrate daily. See your blessings, daily, and realize Christmas lives in your heart all year. (I will be reminding myself of this.)

Being together is more important than all the beauty and all the stuff. Make memories.

I hope for you the ability to realize what Christmas joy truly is. I hope you see and feel Christmas, daily, in your life. I wish you a very happy Christmas! A very merry, joyful Christmas!

P.S. I wrote this last year before my husband was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. He was going through all the appointments and tests and it really put the true meaning of Christmas in our hearts. It was obvious.

love and blessings~dd

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