By: Abi Lenze & Jocelyn Nowak
Every year, the Christmas season arrives with sparkling lights, festive music, and the excitement of exchanging gifts. Yet, beneath the decorations and celebrations lies a deeper truth that often gets overshadowed; Christmas is about giving to others. It’s not only giving presents, but giving kindness, time, compassion, and love.
True giving is not measured by the size or cost of a gift, instead, it is measured by the intention behind it. A handwritten letter, a warm meal, or even a moment of genuine listening can mean more than anything wrapped in paper. Acts of kindness remind us that we are connected; we belong to communities, and we have the ability to make life brighter for someone else. Christmas also encourages us to look beyond ourselves. During the rush of daily life, it’s easy to focus on your responsibilities, struggles, and personal desires. However, the Christmas season invites us to pause and ask: Who needs support? Who could use a smile? Who might be feeling forgotten? When we give to others, whether through charity, volunteering, or simple compassion, we honor the season’s true purpose.
Douglas Craver, Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS) club advisor, agrees that volunteering and a listening ear is one of the best ways to support others during the holidays. While to him, the season is joyous and full of positive memories, he recognizes that not everyone feels this way. One of the most important things he remembers during the holiday season is to support the people who don’t have the same blessings as him. To Craver, Christmas means more than big celebrations, gifts, and decorations. He states, “Christmas is about celebrating God’s love. It is about how that love came down as an infant”. He looks forward to acknowledging this each year at the Candlelight service on Christmas Eve. Instead of paying attention to the stress of buying presents and traveling, he focuses on his faith and supporting others.
Kirk Marsh, FCS advisor, believes it is important to support each other not only emotionally but also financially during this season. “A lot of the time I don’t even let people know it’s (donations) from me, I don’t necessarily want the credit,” Marsh said while being interviewed. He believes that the holiday break, for people of all ages, is one of the most important parts of the holiday season, as the weeks leading up to the break are often the most stressful times of the year. Marsh expressed that “The holidays are really hard on people too, because of stress or… (If) You’ve gone through a loss, or you’ve suffered something this year, the holidays are often stark reminders and can be negative.”
The true meaning of Christmas lies beneath the sparkly ribbons and expensive gifts – it’s the time spent caring for your loved ones and strangers alike, no matter your walk of life.
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