Merry Christmas!

Alright, it's not really Christmas Eve for me. My Coptic Orthodox Christian Christmas is actually on Jan. 7th. So, I will just be nice and go along with this.
Christmas, what a wonderful season it is. It marks the whole winter with its characteristic symbols. You just can't help but picture winter with all the pretty lights, red and green, Christmas tree theme going on. At least I can't. But I've come to realize my expectations are getting lower by the day. I no longer get so excited for the holidays as I did when I was a little kid. The pure joy I got from rain, frosty weather and family gatherings is no more. I'm not saying I am depressed or unhappy or whatever, I'm not. It's just that days take away the excitement I used to experience as a kid with the holidays approaching. They were such a big deal for me, and now I'm completely indifferent.
However, as I fail to be so very "festive" I try to focus on what matters to me most this season, God. Last year my prayer was to stop being so materialistic and to think of what truly matters which is Jesus' birth . I can say it came through. My thoughts cling to Him more than anything now. Even the silly Mayan 2012 prophecy brought me closer to Him, and for this I am grateful.

Music I am listening to now:
Here's the first, a song by "tenth avenue north". I see it as a prayer to stop clinging to "All The Pretty Things" and put our lives in God's hands. It's perfect when all that's on our minds is gifts and food and clothes and such. It always lifts my sight to the sky, to heaven where I belong :)

All The Pretty Things by tenth avenue north:

Lyrics:
We are, we are, we're caught in the in between
Of who we already are and who we are yet to be
And we're looking for love but finding we're still in need
It's only what we have lost will we be allowed to keep

And we're waiting but our eyes are wandering
To all this earth holds dear

Look at all the pretty things
That steal my heart away
I can feel I'm fading
'Cause Lord I love so many things
That keep me from Your face
Come and save me

We run we run to finally be set free
But we're fighting for what we've already received

So we're waiting but our eyes are wandering
To all this earth holds dear

Look at all the pretty things
That steal my heart away
I can feel I'm fading
'Cause Lord I love so many things
That keep me from Your face
Come and save me

We are we are caught in the in between
But we're fighting for what we already have received
We are we are caught in the in between
But we're fighting for what we already have received

Look at all the pretty things
That steal my heart away
I can feel I'm fading
'Cause Lord I love so many things
That keep me from Your face
Come and save me 

Yup, pretty powerful song, It's not gifts that are important this time of the year, it's JESUS' birth!

What echoes this sentiment is another song by a quite surprising artist, Taylor Swift. She wrote a song called "Christmas Must Be Something More" which I really like as it captures the whole idea. Here it is.

Christmas Must Be Something More by Taylor Swift:

Lyrics:
What if ribbons and bows didn't mean a thing
Would the song still survive without 5 golden rings
Would you still wanna kiss without mistletoe
What would happen if God never let it snow
What would happen if Christmas Carols told a lie
Tell me what you would find

You'd say that today holds something special
Something holy and not superficial
So here's to the birthday boy who saved our lives
It's something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
So here's something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something more

What if angels did not pay attention to
All the things that we wish they would always do
What if happiness came in a cardboard box
Then I'd think there was something we all forgot
What would happen if presents all went away
Tell me what would you find

You'd say that today holds something special
Something holy and not superficial
So here's to the birthday boy who saved our lives
It's something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
So here's something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something more

We get so caught up in all of it
Business and relationships
100 mile an hour lives
And it's this time of year
And everybody's here
It seems the last thing on your mind

Is that today holds something special
Something holy and not superficial
So here's to Jesus Christ  who saved our lives
It's something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
So here's something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something (x2)
Christmas must be something more
There's gotta be more








I promise to try to be more Christmas-y the next time I'm posting. 
Merry Christmas! :)