What does Christmas mean to you?

As you read this, no matter who you are, you will have memories of Christmas. In

the lead-up to the big day, I wanted to paint two very different scenes of how it might

be. It can be a happy time for some, whilst it can be a very challenging time for

others.

What kind of words come to mind when you think of Christmas? Carols, presents,

bright lights, festive music, Christmas dinner, snow, being with family? Oh, so many

things.

The photo that goes with this blog is a shop window of the Entertainer toy shop. It is

owned by a Christian couple. Each year, they dedicate one of their windows in each

of their shops to the nativity scene. They could so easily cram it full of toys during

the busiest time of the year, making the most of their shop window. Not only that,

they don’t open on a Sunday, instead observing a day of rest. To me, their window

displays capture the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas will manifest itself in many different ways this year. Let’s consider how it

might be. In life, we like to portray that we are just like the family next door in the

street. But for some, behind closed doors, it is not.

This Christmas, it is a fact that thousands of children across the UK risk waking up to

nothing. With more than half of parents and carers saying they can’t afford presents

for someone this Christmas.

It’s hard to believe in the modern world we live in that this is the reality. But poverty

is a real problem, and much of it is hidden.

Financial hardship is one thing, but something else that is a real issue in modern-day

Britain is loneliness. Whilst you might think this relates mainly to older people,

statistically, 50% of people admitted to being lonely sometimes. It can be hard when

it feels like everyone else is enjoying the time of the year, and you’re on the outside.

Maybe you’re thinking, well, this is all a bit depressing. Well, yes, it is but it is worth

thinking about as we head into the Christmas season. There is always someone out

there who is having a harder time than you.

So, what about you? What are your memories of Christmas? We all have them. I

used to think we were hard up as a family, but when you take into consideration what

we have just thought about, we were really blessed. Here are some of my

memories.

I have to be honest, our Christmas decorations growing up were a bit sad. The

same every year, just older.

As a child, I remember waking up early to open my presents, which were neatly

placed at the end of my bed. Like most children, we would wake up at rude o’clock

when we were young, which got later each year as we got older and preferred to

sleep in.

Church was a big part of our family growing up. There were lots of services, and on

occasion, we would go on Christmas morning and take our presents to show people

on stage.

Christmas lunch was always the main event and would take a huge effort to get

everyone around the table with a hot plate of food with all the trimmings. We always

ate too much. There were crackers with hats to wear and music, normally Cliff

Richard in our house. It was a relief when the washing up was all done and we

could settle down to the Queens speech. A real tradition.

I remember going to my aunt and uncle’s house each year. They had a real tree,

which they decked with many chocolates. After we had our Christmas lunch, they

would cut all the chocolates off of the tree and give them to us. We would go home

with a stash of chocolate that was much bigger than we would normally have. There

were 4 children, and we would make up plays to act out for the adults. I remember

my sister having her first Snowball drink. Happy times.

We might watch a film or a Christmas Special – Only Fools & Horses or Gavin &

Stacey. Then, as if we hadn’t eaten enough, there might be cheese and crackers

and Port for the adults.

By the end of the day, we would go to bed full of food, and perhaps more

importantly, emotionally full, having spent the day with family. We all have that

sense of belonging inside of us that needs to be nurtured.

As we head into the festive season, let’s remember the real meaning of Christmas.

Christmas is the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth—the incarnation of God with us.

Beyond gifts and traditions, its core meaning is worshipping the Saviour who came to

bring hope, peace, and salvation.

I wonder if you have ever heard the phrase “reading the white.” When you look at a

page of writing, normally you look at the words. Reading the white means you read

what you can’t see.

As you enjoy this special time of the year once again, may I encourage you to read

the white and look out for those who might have less than you? Those who might be

struggling financially and those who are on their own.

Reaching out to others is what God did for us when he sent Jesus into the world.

And that, my friends, is the real meaning of Christmas.