I have been a huge fan of Christmas ever since I can remember. When I say huge fan, I mean I am one of those crazy people that you might (most likely) find listening to Christmas music in September. I start picking presents up in the summer and tucking them away. The wheels turn with me thinking about the fun surprises to plan for the kids and for my friends. As far as I’m concerned there are two seasons: Christmas and summer. I hate being cold, but I love the magic.

The holidays are hard for many people and I get that, especially this year. It’s my first Christmas without my dad. This makes it really difficult and sometimes quite emotional. My mom died on December 23rd 17 years ago and I still cry at mass every Christmas Eve. However, my mom is the biggest reason I love Christmas. She loved it too! We had so many traditions that we looked forward to and shared. I get to keep those and share them with my own children. That’s a blessing! At Christmas especially, I get to make those foods that give me the tastes and smells that bring me back to my childhood, to my family. I miss them so much! This is a way to have them again! This joyous season, when people get depressed and think about what they are missing or what they can’t do or buy, I am praying that you see the good! Believe in the magic! There are so many really hard life events, but there are also amazing ones! We can focus on the stories of horror and sorrow or we can choose the ones that exhibit kindness and joy! You choose!

We all need something to believe in. Our happiness, our attitudes are always up to us, our reactions, and how we choose to view any given situation. Last year, my 12 year old told me that some kids in her class don’t believe in Santa Claus. She asked me if I believed in Santa.

I explained it like this. We believe in God, even though we don’t see him. We can see the good around us. We can see everything that our faith has taught us that God has made. We talk to God daily (at least!) in this house. We believe in Him. St. Nicholas was a real person. He was a bishop and a defender of Jesus Christ. His status of bishop was taken away because of how violently he fought to defend Jesus being the King, the son of God. Later, he was reinstated as a Bishop because of how loved he was by the people. He came from a wealthy family. He found joy in giving and was well known for giving presents to children. This man’s legacy very clearly gives us our modern day right to believe in St. Nicholas or, Santa Claus.

After my explanation, my daughter agreed with me that she too believes.

So, this holiday season, amongst the lonely, the sad, the angry, dig deep to find the good, the hope, the joy. Help those who may have trouble seeing the magic of the season. Know that there is a reason for the season. People come together. We have heard that many times people come together in a tragedy. The holiday season is not a tragedy, yet we see the Giving Trees, the Toys for Tots drives, the volunteers at so very many places around the globe! We have neighbors bring treats. We gather with friends and family. We give gifts of our time, our heart, our joy. We see others do the same for us, our friends, and our families.

In a time of JOY, we all come together!! This is magical!! This is wonderful!! This is what I believe in!! Do you?