The wonderful spirit of Christmas—a gift we need all year long
Dec 24
A new series of occasional posts by one of Dean’s friends
telling us how they pursue the challenge of daily obedience to Jesus.
By Marvin W. Bussey
From the time of my earliest boyhood memories growing up in Augusta, I can recall the magic that began to fall on us as the calendar page was turned over to December. All around us were the sights, sounds, and smells of the holidays and the advent of Christmas—the most joyous day of the year. The excitement in the air was infectious as people greeted each other with “Merry Christmas!” “Happy Holidays!” and “Seasons Greetings!” And that feeling only intensified as the preparations were underway with decorating, sending Christmas cards, baking, making Christmas gift lists, and noting the dates for holiday school and church events leading up to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. My eyes likely became as big as saucers as I took in all the lights and sights on display around the city.
Photo by Any Lane at Pexels.com.
Who is not moved by the recognition of families going together to pick out just the right Christmas tree for their homes? And then the impressions from presentations like A Christmas Carol, The Nutcracker, the concerts and plays, and even movie scenes that warm our hearts. So many images are etched in my memory of Christmas seasons of long ago. It seems that all of my senses were magnified by 200 percent. The melodious sounds of Christmas carols coming from the stores and the radio stations continued to ring in my ears for days. Excitement soared as we awaited the time to unwrap our gifts. Our noses were tickled with the smells of gingerbread coming from the kitchen. It seems that our feet became “happy feet” as we walked around the mall going from store to store.
What I want
As we enjoyed the season, the one question adults often asked was, “What do you want for Christmas?” Even today, that question still comes up. As I recently thought about that question, my mind somehow went to the familiar holiday song recorded by the beloved singer, Ray Charles, who happens to also be Georgia-born. This song expresses “That Spirit of Christmas” I so remember and still enjoy.
In it, Charles sings of “being with the ones we love . . . sharing so much joy and cheer . . . listening to a children’s choir singing songs about Jesus.” Finally the song asks, “Why can’t it remain all through the year?”
The holiday season has an almost supernatural effect on many of us, even as adults. The neighborhood scrooges seem to have a smile on their faces. Family members come from miles away to get together around the Christmas season. Grandparents get to hold their grandchildren for the first time or the first time in a while. What a joy it is to have Grandpa read the Night Before Christmas to the children while the smell of mouthwatering treats wafts in from the kitchen. Siblings who had been estranged get to put their differences aside while decorating the family Christmas tree. That’s the spirit of Christmas. It appears that time stands still for Christmas.
What if every day felt like Christmas—well maybe not every day but more days throughout the year? How can we package, bottle, or freeze some of the holiday cheer and spread it throughout the year?
Charles Dickens said, "I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” What if homeless persons are able to feel the spirit of Christmas in June? What if the sick or depressed got a spirit of Christmas visit in July? What if a child got a longed-for gift in September? Perhaps these are some ways of keeping the spirit of Christmas throughout the year. We can all honor Christmas in our hearts by sharing love, peace, and joy with others throughout the year.
Building others up
In our Christian tradition, we should be reminded of the words of the apostle Paul as he said in Philippians 2:3–4, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Paul encourages us to not just seek our own happiness, but seek ways we can make others happy, fulfilled, and loved. He went on to say in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
The Greek word for encouragement is oikodomē, which means the act of building up, edifying; the act of one who promotes another’s growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, and holiness. So, as we enjoy the spirit of Christmas, let’s make a New Year’s resolution to help keep the spirit of Christmas all through the year. Why don’t we all ask that question that Ray Charles asks in those lyrics: “Why can’t it remain all through the year?” That’s the gift I want for Christmas—for that joy, excitement, peace, and goodwill to remain throughout the year. WHAT A GIFT!
Marvin Bussey, a graduate of Hope University and Georgia State University, is a licensed professional counselor. He lives in Symrna, Georgia. He founded Teens at Work, Inc., a nonprofit organization providing enrichment activities for youth in metro Atlanta and published a mentors’ guidebook for parents, mentors, and youth leaders titled Twenty-Five Things Every Boy Should Know and Experience. He has received the alumnus of the year award from both Point and Georgia State and received several awards for community service, including Channel 5’s Hearts-for-Youth Salute Award.
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