Keep the Spirit of Christmas year-round

Editor's Note: This column came in after we had closed shop for the Christmas weekend. It's message is still worth sharing even if Christmas is officially over for 2022.

From the Desk of Sen. Jessica Garvin

Christmas is such an exciting time, especially for children. There is nothing that gives me greater joy than to see my kids’ eyes light up when their favorite Christmas cartoon comes on, they see all the beautiful lights on people’s homes or catch a glimpse of Santa around town. I love their excitement at church hearing about the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, or when we drive by a nativity scene and they catch a glimpse of baby Jesus. There is no joy like that of Christmas through the eyes of a child.

Sadly, as adults, it’s easy to lose some of that joy and spirit of Christmas as we race from store to store, trying to find the perfect gift or that one ingredient to our loved one’s famous casserole. We rush from event to event in between trips to the store trying to mark off our grocery and gift lists, wrap presents, get the house ready for family and friends, and all the other millions of tasks we have to make the holiday perfect. Before we know it, Christmas is over, passing as quickly as it came. The scraps of wrapping paper are thrown away, the fridge is full of leftovers, and the house is put back in order. Life returns to normal.

But just because we put up the tree and take down the decorations, doesn’t mean the spirit of Christmas has to end. It’s important for us to distinguish between the commercial Christmas and the spirit of Christmas. We’d be insane to want to experience the madness and hassle of commercial Christmas year-round. It makes me tired just thinking about it.

I’m talking about the true spirit of Christmas because that’s what makes the season so special. It’s the spirit of Christmas that brings more people to church, encourages them to donate a little extra to their favorite charity, brings friends and families together to celebrate and gives folks just a little more patience when that stranger cuts them off in traffic. So much good is done in the world during the Christmas season.

The Christmas spirit is an emotional, heartwarming, compassionate feeling for people. It compels us to help those in need, forgive those who have hurt us and to try to be a better version of ourselves. We may think the spirit of Christmas disappears when the tree comes down, but it is always within us, and we can’t let it fade away.

Let’s always remember why we celebrate Christmas. Remember the frightened young girl who was chosen to be a servant of God. Remember the man who put his own feelings aside to be obedient to God’s will. Remember the little baby who was born in terrible surroundings and the only place for a bed was in a feed trough. Remember that innocent baby who grew into a man and lived a life that set an example for all of us. Remember the sacrifice he made for each and every one of us on the Cross. Remember the hope he gave us all by rising from that cold grave. That is the Christmas spirit.

Our Christmas celebration shouldn’t end the day after Christmas. The Christmas spirit should be guiding us, not just on Christmas, but throughout the year.

From our family to yours, we hope this Christmas season is filled with love, peace and joy, and that the new year brings even more of these blessings to you and your loved ones.

To contact Garvin at the Capitol. Write to Senator Jessica Garvin, State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. Room 237, Oklahoma City, OK, 73105, email: Jessica.Garvin@oksenate.gov or call (405) 521-5522.