Christmas Through My Eyes -- Dec. 1st

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! 

I have decided to create a special blog for the month of December to focus on the true, genuine meaning of Christmas from my perspective. It's so easy to get wrapped up in the chaos of everything going on during the holiday season. I often find myself so crazed in planning and promoting my art that I don't appreciate living in the moment as much. Especially during the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, which is my favorite time of the year, I find it particularly difficult to balance everything from creating, to working, to spending time with loved ones.

"Christmas Through My Eyes" will be a daily dedication for the 31 days of December. Each day will have a different theme and will be focused on something that makes my Christmas memorable and special. I will be posting a hand-lettered design that has some significance to each day's theme as a way for me to use the talents I was gifted to spread some Christmas cheer and also to make art every single day this month.

December 1st -- Jesus is the reason for the season

Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday for many reasons, one of which being my faith. I was raised Catholic and now proclaim that faith as my own. I genuinely believe that I was given my artistic abilities for a reason, so I try to use them whenever I get the opportunity in new and interesting ways. Growing up I went to a Catholic School down the street from my house and I loved it. Between going to a school that taught me about my faith from a young age and my parents continuing to teach me about my faith at home it made Christmas so much more meaningful.

Most kids view Christmas as a time for baking treats, playing in the snow, and getting gifts from Santa on Christmas morning. I of course loved all of those things, but Christmas meant even more to me because of the story of Jesus' birth. Every year we put up a nativity in front of our house. Every day of the Christmas season from the time I was 4 to the time I was about 9, I would pray to baby Jesus in the manger in my front yard--always including the casual "happy birthday jesus," can you put in a good word to Santa for me, and thanking him for being born. Of course things have changed a bit since then, but I still always try to make certain that Jesus is a priority, especially during Christmas.

Sometimes life gets crazy and you can't always make it to church, that happens to me too. I know deep down that not going to church every Saturday night or Sunday morning doesn't mean that I am a bad person or that I'm not "Catholic enough." In my opinion, your faith can be whatever you want it to be, and for me this holiday season I'm making a conscious decision to make sure I go to church every Sunday during Advent, especially since I often do not go each week. Christmas is often viewed as a means of giving and receiving gifts. For me, this Christmas season I am giving my time to go to church and in return I will be getting filled with hope, positivity, and great community from my church St. John Vianney.

Christmas is a holiday that was created to share the story of the birth of Jesus, and I firmly believe that for myself. Over time Christmas has become even more meaningful with my own family traditions and favorite memories, but one thing that will always remain true for me each year is that Jesus is the reason for the season.