The Meaning of Christmas

I really hate to admit it, but it's taken me 48 years to really understand the meaning of Christmas. Christmas has come so fast this year and I've had no desire to participate in any of it. It all has seemed like such a chore...put up the tree only to have to take it down again in a month. Decorations, the same. Our house is bare of the normal Christmas trappings. Wait! Before you cry about us not having a tree up and missing out on Christmas, I really have to tell you I understand more now the meaning of it than I have in all the years past with the parties and the presents and all of the festivities. This year, I've finally found peace. Not peace on earth, but peace in my heart. It's taken me the whole holiday season to figure out that I needed the peace. Thank you, dear friends for showing me what this season is really all about.