The Gift

Christmas in Korea is celebrated a little bit differently than other parts of the world. In Korea, Christmas is a couple holiday much like Valentine's Day. So instead of gathering with family, Koreans usually go on dates on Christmas. This concept is still very strange to me. And I can't wrap my head around not having Christmas traditions with your family.

 My family has some spectacular Christmas traditions. And although they've changed over the years, and even some traditions have stopped over time, I'm really grateful that I have those memories and that, for me, Christmas is a happy time.

This year, being alone and all for Christmas, I wanted to create a personal tradition that I could also share with the people I love so we could still be together for Christmas. So this year for Christmas, I'm reading the four gospels. When I realized that my Christmas celebrations this year would be very stripped down, and probably without any fanfare or pageantry, I knew that the best thing to do would be to focus on the life of Christ. That's what Christmas is supposed to be all about right? So family, friends, and anyone else, please join me! If you read about 10 pages or for 30 minutes a day, you should be able to finish before Christmas.

I'm not a perfect person. I struggle with the baser tendencies of humankind just like everyone else. But lately, I've had this desire to do a little better, and try a little harder. It has only been a few days, but reading about the life of Christ has already helped me to do that. In the quiet moments of study in the mornings, I've read about what it means to truly live your religion. And I would love to hear what my friends and family have to say about the same chapters. So, what do you say? Are you in?

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