75 of 100 ... What is Christmas?

I overheard an interesting conversation between the two girls on the other side of my cubicle today ... they were talking about Christmas.  The one girl did not believe in it, she did not support the commercialism of it, she had no faith, she did not decorate, she saw no purpose in it.  The other girl ... she had some faith (she liked the carols), she liked the decorations and did enjoy the holiday.  It got me to thinking - what is this day that our culture has set aside and pumped up with so much that stores start decorating at the end of August (see: Costco) and I'm sure once Halloween ends, Christmas music will be heard in many stores?  Is there a purpose to this day?  is it about spending? or about family?  What if you have few friends in your life, no family and you have no  faith?  Then, why have this day?  Maybe this day is only about consumer-greed, maybe those quaint pictures of the Holy family and content, smiling barn animals with the cherub with glowing countenance and halo around his head is the 'meaning for the season' ... Don't get me wrong. I do see value in this day, not because of what I believe, but because of what I believe, I see value and purpose in this day. (How's that for a mind-bender?!) 

DAY'S REPORT
 
  Habits: 
- Clean Sink:  no
- Cups of Water: 3
- Hours of sleep: 7ish
- Meds: yes
- Reading: no
- FoodRecord: no  
- Steps: 4920
 
Goal Advancement for today:   
Nothing of note.
(E-Environment, H:Health, F:Financial, PD: Prof/Personal Development, R: Relationships.) 
 
Gratitude:
1.  I'm grateful for what I believe.  
2.  I'm grateful for Christmas.
3.  I'm grateful for my friends, the ones that inspire me, that challenge me, that help me become more of who I am created to be.  
4 . I'm grateful for what I see and sense in this world.
5.  I'm grateful for resisting complacency with my lot in life.  It causes great anxiety and stress but I also know that in the end, it will be worth it.  

Ah … if there is no Santa Claus, if there is no Christmas, then it is as good as believing there is no passion, no romance, no beauty, no love. Let me suggest that what we have made Christmas into is not what it is … and to confuse these two leads one down a road that is cynical and dark, full of greed and empty of generosity and creativity.  Not a road on which I wish to travel!  I believe in Christmas as much as I believe in love and life and truth.  It’s not about the decorations and the presents, lights and trees, though they are pretty – it’s about what lives in our hearts and it’s about the legacy we leave.  I believe – we are to remove childish qualities as soon as we recognize them for they do nothing to promote our success in life, but we should hold on to and nurture childlike qualities until the day we die, because I believe that’s what makes life worth living.  That’s what brings passion and romance, beauty and love … and yes, Christmas, into every day of our lives. And what we leave behind, after we depart from this world, will be our testament to Christmas and all that it is. 

(~from the letter I wrote to the girl who did not believe in Christmas.)