Why do I celebrate Christmas? Part 2

I was rereading what I wrote on “Why I Celebrate Christmas?” and I truly felt there was something that I missed to convey, or perhaps the manner in which I conveyed it. I realized that while I expressed my thoughts with words, I missed sharing them through lived experiences. So, I was asking God to inspire me to write about it, and I suddenly stumbled upon a video that I found quite revealing.

The video is about a husband who took his wife and kids to a barber shop. The wife is battling cancer and wanted to get her hair a shaved . Right after the first stroke of the trimmer went over her head, she looked in the mirror and realized what was happening to her. The husband, surprisingly took the trimmer and shaved off his own hair as well to convey that he understood and that he was there to support her. Immediately, as a ripple effect, her sons in that place shaved their heads too. This is not something you watch every day, right? The joy and love in her eyes revealed something that cannot be described by mere words. It was a profound act of love.

Have you been in a place where there was an expression of love and kindness that you could not fully comprehend?

There were times at which my mother would wait, even if it was late at night, as I come from work, just to make sure I ate my dinner. She would sit there, not sleeping, simply waiting for me. There were days when she would not even eat so that I could eat. I also remember how my mother-in-law prays for our entire family. Our larger family is like a unity in diversity—people from different walks of faith and different subsects of the same faith—but no matter who you are, my mother-in-law always offers prayers for all of us. Any church I take her to, she first goes to meet the priest and asks him to offer prayers.

I also remember the days when I had no job. During that time, my mentor took me on a trip to speak at a congregation. In our free time, we stepped out for some window shopping. I was standing outside a toy shop, looking in, with no money in my pocket, thinking to myself, What is happening to me? My mentor came up beside me and said, “Hey, I want to get your girls something. Can you pick some toys for them?” At that moment, tears started to roll down my eyes—there was sudden joy in my heart, along with a pinch of embarrassment about how to ask.

I also remember a time when both my wife and I were working to make ends meet, and with our first daughter on the way, my wife decided to stop working. At the same time, I received a promotion where my pay was literally doubled to match what we had been making together. That sudden provision was from God.

I remember the day our cat named “Tiger” passed away. I saw my wife holding him in her arms, looking at him intently, hoping he might come back. The agony in her eyes—the way she cried—was heartbreaking. He was always around her, walking between her legs and calling out to her. Even I would not have come around my wife that many times. And all of a sudden, he was no longer there.

As I was recollecting all these moments, I began to see a pattern I had not noticed before. Each one of these incidents reflected God in the natural.

The husband and kids didn’t explain empathy — they entered her pain.

My mother didn’t just care abstractly — she waited for me no matter the time.

My mother-in-law doesn’t filter who deserves prayer — she covers everyone.

My work scenario — the provision of a double portion.

My mentor didn’t give advice — he gave dignity when I had none.

My wife’s grief over our cat — love suffered loss because it was present.

There is one truth common in all of these: love shows itself by showing up. Love doesn’t stay distant. Love doesn’t explain itself. Love entered.

And for me, this is Christmas - Gods expression of Love. This is why I celebrate Christmas—as a remembrance of all these moments.

God did not love me from heaven, but from within. As you read this, I would encourage you to pass on this ripple effect of Love similar to how the husband and kids did and let people see Christmas through you.