What does Christmas mean to you?

Unfortunately, Christmas is often associated with shopping and presents in the minds of many consumers -- and not much else.

In this materialistic world we live in, far too many people have lost sight of the true meaning of Christmas.

To me, Christmas is really about:

The birth of Christ
Spending time with loved ones
Giving to the less fortunate
Being thankful for what I have
Being nice, noble and helpful
Thinking about others before myself

We should be mindful of these things year-round, but at the very least we should prioritize them this time of year.

Gifts come and go. They depreciate and are eventually discarded or replaced. Such is not the case with our friends and family, who most of us would deem irreplaceable.

Christmas is more about giving than receiving. It's about spreading a little cheer to those who sorely need it -- the poor, the sick, the injured, the elderly.

Christmas is about love. It's about neighborliness. It's about being there for those who really need you. Christmas is the antithesis of selfishness.

What does Christmas mean to you? Do you feel consumerism has distorted the true meaning of the holiday?

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