What Is Christmas?
by Gil Camporazo
“Christmas is happiness,” replied Bryan, our 7-year old grandson, when I asked him what
is Christmas for him.
“Why?” He confidently answered, “Because the kids are receiving gifts from their
parents. The school children are having party and exchanging gifts.” “Foods are many
during Christmas seasons,” he added.
“What about other people who are poor,” I followed up, “Are they also happy at
Christmastime?”
“Yes, they will be happy too. When they pray to our Father in heaven, they will be give
‘gifts’. They will receive good health, protection from harm and they will not get sick.
And Jesus will also give ‘toys’ to those little children who are good, kind and obedient to
their parents, brothers, sisters, and teachers.”
“What toys?” I verified. “Like toy cars, plastic robots, dolls, and many more!” Bryan
retorted.
In his own sense, Bryan valued Christmas as an opportunity for everyone to be happy. In
the way we brought him up “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”, Bryan has
developed faith to God Almighty, and value the greatest love of our heavenly Father by
giving His Only Begotten Son so that there will be “peace on earth and goodwill to men.”
His grandmother, Rebing and me used to read to him chapter 3 of the book of John,
verse 16, that says: “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that
whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but shall have an everlasting life.”
And we expounded it to him as the unfeigned love of our Father in heaven to save every
human kind from his sins. A father is always responsible for his children’s welfare,
education, and everything so that they may have a better and bright future.
Being obedient they may reach their ambitions in life and they will be happy. It’s a kind
of happiness that money cannot buy.
I understand why Bryan regarded Christmas as happiness for those who are “least in life”
when they pray to our Father in heaven. Prayer is a form of expressing everyo