When I was a kid growing up in Central Pennsylvania, we used to have some serious snow storms. I remember getting so excited about snow days, which meant my siblings and I got to play outside in the snow all day instead of going to school. If we were really lucky, we had a power outage. Of course my parents were slightly less enthused about the lack of electricity than their children, but as a kid, there was something magical about being stuck in our candlelit home with my family.
As Christmas approaches, I often stop and reminisce about those snow-filled days of my childhood. What was so magical about being holed up in my home with no electricity and only my family to entertain me? As an adult I can now begin to process that question, and the answers inspire the remembrance of what this holiday season – and life – are all about.
No television, internet, or distractions. No electricity meant it was all about spending time together. While quality family time was always a point of emphasis in my home, power outages were especially conducive for us to talk, laugh, and reconnect. We would pull out the candles, huddle up, pick out some of our favorite board games, and start making memories together. Every time the power came back on, my two sisters and I would let out a disappointing sigh. The return of electricity acted as a symbol of life’s craziness resuming: a concept even a child understood at some level.
As an adult, I now know that life as a kid was easy and simple. You grow up and suddenly you realize what it means to be truly busy and pulled in a million directions. Life seems to breeze by without warning, and all you can do is try to hold on for dear life. The truth is, none of us make it out of this life alive. All we have on Earth are these fleeting moments that pass in the blink of an eye. That is why we all need our own planned “power outages”– to take time to enjoy life and the relationships that bless us.
The need for relationships is fundamental to all human beings, because God created us to be in relationship. Throughout the Bible He teaches the importance of sharing community with others. The significance of relationships between humans flows out of the divine relationship within the Holy Trinity – The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We need other people in our lives, and yet we still struggle to find quality time for them. We take relationships for granted, assuming they will always be there…but our to-do list has to be done now.
The reality is that our relationships are not permanent, nor are they self-sustaining. What we put into our relationships is directly proportional to what we get out of them. We cannot expect to have thriving relationships with our family, friends, significant other, or spouse if we are not investing in them. If relationships are not given time, love, energy, and attention, they will begin to wilt and eventually die.
Christmas is the perfect time to give the greatest gift of all – ourselves. Giving the gift of “presence” can mean more than anything found under the tree. If you are married, plan your own power outage. Turn off the lights, television, computer, and cell phones. Light some candles and enjoy spending quality time with your spouse, away from life’s distractions. Look into each other’s eyes, laugh, talk, and relax together. Get back to what matters – building your relationship. If you aren’t married, do something similar with friends and family members who are important to you. For example, you might “unplug” and take a walk together or find a shaded tree in a nearby park to sit under and talk about life with. Take time to give more than just a store-bought gift; give yourself.
Giving of yourself, your time, energy, and affection, is priceless. It is the invaluable gift that keeps on giving. Christmas is not really about Christmas trees, lights, or presents. It is about God’s gift of Himself to us in the humblest of forms. Why not recapture the true essence of Christmas by giving of yourself to your loved ones? Pull the plug on life’s distractions and spend some quality time together.
