What Is Christmas?

So what is Christmas about?

Christmas is beyond just receiving gifts. It is beyond Santa Clause.

It is about searching within yourself for a love much deeper... A love that makes you want to brighten the day for everyone you come across. It's like a light comes on and everyone is more cheerful, more joyful, more full of light.

But not everyone's Christmas is blessed with presents and shared moments with loved ones. There are people living on the streets who do not even know it is Christmas.

I know because I met one of them a few years ago when I handed out blankets in New York City on Christmas morning. He was living on newspapers in the freezing cold. In that moment, watching his eyes light up with thankfulness, I found that love deep within...

A love that cannot be explained by words... It can only be felt by experiences.

I felt that love again when I handed out scarves I had crocheted to homeless people in New York City. Those scarves meant a lot because I crocheted them during treatment in an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). As I crocheted them, I went through a transformational healing. Needless to say, I prayed for everyone who received them...

This Christmas, my mom and I visited my brother. We wanted to visit him but did not have a ride. We frantically called a taxi company, who said they did not have a taxi out. One of my mother's friends graciously drove us to see him.

As I spent time with my brother, nothing else mattered apart from spending time with him. The gifts did not matter. All that mattered was the love I felt. I can tell you that I savored every moment of our time.

No matter what you do tonight, please say a prayer for those who are alone, sick or just having a no-good, very bad, horrible, awful day. Please pray for them to feel the love of Christmas...

And do not just save this love for one day a year... Spread this love each day of your life.