i am a believer.

christmas has just been grand. i've given and received much to my delight. i am SO happy i am the oldest and have two siblings that are still leaving cookies out for santa and writing him letters. it makes christmas so much more fun. i'm grateful i know santa will be coming to my house and i will have presents under the tree.
presents aren't what christmas is all about, but this christmas presents taught me a lot. santa and my parents definitely take care of my family. i always have something to look forward to and barely any of it is something of necessity. i say presents taught me a lot this christmas, and really they taught me everything.
this year my family picked a family to create a christmas for. what would it be like to not expect anything under the tree, and not even have a tree to begin with? this is not something i've experienced ever. a family in my ward is a set of grandparents, parents, and their kids all living together. their living conditions are minimal and nothing i would ever hope for. there are many young children in the house, three, five, ten.. ages that christmas magic is most important at. i wonder what kids who don't expect santa think when before christmas it's all most kids talk about, then after christmas break everyone is listing their presents and they have nothing to say.
throughout the week we did chores to earn money for presents for the family, then friday we went shopping for them. it was so exciting! i loved picking out outfits and trying to find something that would make them excited. after doing all of that it made me feel so greedy to be asking for so many things that were so unnecessary. i think i'm this desperate college student that barely scrapes by, but when compared to them i'm doing great. comparing yourself to others i thought was never helpful, but when i compared myself to others less fortunate than i am, in hopes of bettering their conditions is what made christmas special for me. yes, i know my parents put out the presents on christmas eve and eat the cookies, but not everyone has parents who can do that. the magic of santa happens when we grasp the spirit of christmas. christmas could be the most selfish, materialistic holiday if we forget what christmas is all about. of course, we are celebrating Christ's birth, but i also think it is important to remember the spirit of giving and looking out for others.
i'm so glad i was able to help provide the magic of santa for a family, which then reminded me of the spirit of christmas- making this christmas one i will remember. i look forward to many more seasons of giving to come.
:)