Transforming Christmas (A Christmas Carol)

Today I want to invite you to reflect on the true value of Christmas, with the story “Transforming Christmas” , where a child will remind us that it is important to value and thank what we have, no matter how little it may seem, and it is important to do it every days of the year, not just once a year.

At this time, the bombardments of television advertisements about nougat, toys, perfumes begin … everything indicates that Christmas has arrived, this wonderful and dreaded time of year. The streets are lit up and a kind of collective madness invades us and invites us to consume compulsively, filling the pantries in an excessive way and going out to buy gifts for everyone. But is this really the value of Christmas? Transforming Christmas is possible when we are able to look under the wrapping of the gifts. 

Transform Christmas

Little Oliver was just five years old and was very curious about the world around him. He began to observe that everything was changing around him, the streets were filled with bright colors, repetitive songs were heard everywhere, trees were adorned with figures of all kinds, television announced nougat, toys, champagne, perfumes …… All that caused that Oliver asked himself a question, which he finally dared to say aloud to his mother:

• What’s that about Christmas?
• Christmas is something that only the lucky ones can have. I hope I can give it to you one day, son- His mother answered with some sadness.

Oliver was saddened by that answer and by seeing his mother’s expression, but he did not lose hope that he would one day be lucky and experience his own Christmas. Days passed, and little Oliver continued to do his research on the subject. Christmas morning came.

Oliver got up very early and ran to wake up his mother. She opened her eyes with some difficulty and saw how the little one handed her a handmade card with a reused folio. But that card was equally beautiful, full of colors, drawings and above all with a hopeful message: – “You give me Christmas every day, because I feel happy to be with you” -.  Oliver’s mother began to cry. And the little one asked:

• Why are you crying, mom?
• Because I did not know how lucky I was, until this moment in which you have shown it to me – Oliver’s mother said while hugging her son tightly.
• Of course, mom, we have Christmas every day.

Love the best gift

Transforming Christmas is possible, that’s how little Oliver did it, with his innocence and valuing what was really important to him. His mother’s love was without a doubt the best gift he could receive.  The little one, like his mother, reminds us that sometimes we lose sight of what is really important and we worry about what we cannot offer to others, because we cannot pay for it or because we take it for granted that there will be no reciprocity .

And maybe, just maybe we lose sight of everything that we already have and receive from other people. There is no richer person than the one who is rich in people who love and appreciate them. And all of us, absolutely all of us, have at least one person who loves us and whom we love. Also, and especially – why not? -, at Christmas.