The season is always so busy, and we get caught up in the rush of everything that needs doing before the "big day". Baking cookies and other goodies, searching for presents, wrapping said presents, decorating the house, finding a Christmas tree (or getting yours out of the attic, like we did) and then decorating it. Then, you place those presents under the tree just awaiting for Christmas Day (or Christmas Eve if you abide by German tradition like my family) to arrive.

But as my pastor said in church on Sunday and on Christmas Even, we need to look beyond the package. Giving gifts is a wonderful thing to do, but the holiday shouldn't be about just that. It's the thought behind the gifts, it's the love that is placed in each and every gift, and it's the warm memories you have from Christmases past, those you make on this Christmas Day, and those that will be made in Christmases yet-to-come.

Just remember on this 25th of December to think of not only your family and friends, but of those you have yet to meet and those you see on the street.

Merry Christmas.