Every year we often hear people say that Christmas is for kids (Ang pasko ay para sa mga bata…), something I’d like to ponder upon this Christmas season.
Is Christmas really for the kids? If so, why? Let me share my views on this. I’ll answer the question primarily with a NO.
NO. From a capitalist perspective, Christmas is never about the kids. It’s about them, the bigwigs in business and the profit that they will gain out of luring the kids to buy their not-so-good goods and motivating them to have tantrums if their wants are not granted. Nowadays, there are so many things that you can find around the market that weren’t available in shops before, from the most unusual electronic gadget to the most out-of-this-world fashion accessories. Ever wondered why I-pod, I-phone, and I-pad lured you and the other kids to have them? Well, the Apple had a bite, and it’s waiting for you to take the bait.
(N.B. The Bible didn’t mention that the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is an apple. DISCLAIMER: I’m not saying that buying these is equal to being evil. But LONGING for these to the extent of obsession and depression is evil.)
NO. From a political perspective, Christmas is never about the kids. It’s about them, the gansters and mafias seated in leather swivel chairs inside the big House called the government. “‘Tis the season of giving” they say. But should their not-so-angelic faces be plastered all over the “gifts” that they distribute among their constituents (a.k.a. voters)? I wonder how these people stomach sashaying gifts that were bought out of taxpayers’ money.
NO. From an employee’s perspective, Christmas is never about the kids. It’s about the double-pay, the additional compensation that they will get from sacrificing joy in the name of duty. Of course, some employees would really work over time for the sake of their children. But is it worth it? Can money really cover what kids really need? (most especially during Christmas?)
If Christmas is for kids, how do we see kids? How do we understand their NEEDS more than their WANTS?
Wait.
Who are the KIDS in the first place? If we will define kids as naïve, dependent, and trivial, then I am a kid, you are a kid, we are kids!
If we are naïve (as in we don’t understand some of the things that happen in our lives), dependent (as in we can’t live on our own), and trivial (as in we find joy out of the not-so-important things, specially material things) then YES, Christmas is for kids, like us because the real spirit of Christmas is not about the gifts that you give and receive, it’s about the greatest gift, the greatest sacrifice that God has given to us.
Most of the time, we celebrate Christmas only on the basis of Jesus’s birth. We fail to celebrate a much bigger occasion, His death—the ultimate and incomparable example of love, of giving.
Yes. Christmas is for kids like us because it’s a constant reminder that we are kids: Naïve, Dependent, and Trivial; that we are kids who need Jesus in our lives because we cannot do things on our own. We can only be successful in this life if we realize and accept that we need Jesus beside us in all the things that we do.
Have a blessed Chrismas and New year, KIDS!
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