What Christmas means to me

RHS Freshman

What does Christmas mean to me? Well there are a few things that I can think of off the top of my head! The definition of Christmas for me is: Families being together all having a huge birthday party for Jesus! Jesus who is the Lord and Savior of the entire world -- who came down to Earth and lived a perfect life for 33 years and -- who died on the cross of Calvary for all the people living then and for all of the ones who have been born since and for all who are yet to be born!

Another definition of Christmas to me is waking up and running up the stairs, seeing presents everywhere under my tree, and hearing my grandpa and grandma knocking on the door ready to see me open all of my presents!

Christmas also means going to my granny's house, eating a huge breakfast, opening more presents, and spending time with all my family -- together as one each year!

Christmas is a holiday where families spend time together and have a great time! Christmas is just AWESOME!!!

Candy Hill

Rector Resident

Christmas is a fun time of decorating, celebrating, special music, gift giving and good fellowship, to be sure.

However, above all, the meaning in Christmas for me is in sharing the love of Christ. This Christmas season I have done that by sharing my home with friends and neighbors and sharing my time/talents with my church and community.

As I grow older, I find myself thinking more in terms of what and how I can give to others rather than what I am going to receive, and I believe this is the legacy of Christ.

Stephanie DeMent

RHS Senior

To me, Christmas is more than just another holiday. It is more than eating a big meal, reminiscing with your family, and opening gifts. The true meaning of Christmas is all but lost in our "me" society of today, where most people only think of ways to help themselves.

Christmas is a time of giving. It is a time that giving of yourself should be of most importance. Christmas is not about what you receive, it is about what you can give of yourself to help others. Your gift doesn't have to be anything extraordinary, just giving a portion of your time to someone can make a world of difference in their lives.

The reason for Christmas is Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus gave up the luxuries of heaven to come to Earth so that we could be saved from our sins, we should give of ourselves to those around us.

Mitchell Weber

RHS Freshman

Christmas, to me, is about giving back to others, spending time with family.

Giving back is a big part of what Christmas means to me. Whether it be giving cans to the annual food drive at school or donating clothes to the local homeless shelter.

Spending time with family is also a big part of Christmas. It's a time of gathering together to celebrate the birth of Jesus, whether you are visiting with grandparents or the whole family. That's what Christmas means to me.

Kaitlyn Essman

Rector Freshman

We're all asked the question, "What does Christmas mean to you?" and a million things pop into our heads. We think about all of the great presents we get or all of the food we get to eat that we normally don't have. We don't typically stop and really think about what Christmas is all about.

First of all, you can't spell Christmas without Christ. We wouldn't have this holiday without Jesus. Christmas is the day that we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Not long after He was born, He died for our sins. Not honoring Him on His birthday just wouldn't be right.

Another thing we don't always think about is family. They give us presents, and we thank them and go about with our lives. We don't take much time to reconnect with them. Christmas is the perfect opportunity to spend time with our families. My family is very important to me, and I would be lost without them.

Christmas is a very special time for me. I'm thankful for the many Christmases I've had and hopefully the many more to come.

Clinton Haley

RHS Senior

What does Christmas mean to me? As a high school student it means you have Christmas break, which means two weeks out of school. And who doesn't like two weeks off from school? But aside from being on break, Christmas is one of the happiest times of the year.

This is also a time in which we celebrate Christ coming into the world. You get to see friends and relatives who are visiting that you might not get to see very often and spend extra time with those that you see all the time.

And then there is the decorating of the tree, eating lots of food, and everyone's favorite part -- presents. And I think about how fortunate we are to have material things and how some kids don't receive that much because their family may be having a hard time. To sum it up, I believe Christmas is spending time with friends and family and giving more than you receive.

Nancy Kemp

Democrat Editor

For years I've been asking others to write their thoughts on "What Christmas Means to Me." I have enjoyed so much the wonderful responses and have discovered there are many who can very capably express deep thoughts and emotions about this special time of the year. We've had some clever humorous contributions too!

This year I have decided to share some of my own thoughts and reflections. My earliest memories are of gatherings of my mother's family at my grandparents' modest home in the country just outside Dardanelle (Yell County) -- the same house where my parents lived when I was born. I'll never forget the sound of my Pap-pa's voice as he said a prayer after we all crowded into the small space for that once-a-year feast. What a sweet, humble man he was. So gentle and loving. My grandmother (Mam-ma), the closest I've ever known to a perfect person, always made sure we heard the Christmas story about Jesus's birth and made that the focus of our day.

At our own little house in West Helena, where I later lived and grew up, I was spoiled by my older sister and brother, who loved telling the baby of the family about Santa and the spirit of Christmas. Our Christmases were simple, with mom's recycled childhood cotton stockings filled with fruit, nuts and a few hard candies. But we had magical trees flocked in white or pink and were thrilled over gifts like roller skates, puzzles, dolls and bicycles.

In later years, after I had my own children, I looked forward with great anticipation to traveling to my parents' home in Russellville. Daddy always met us at the back door and grabbed up the kids for lots of hugs and kisses. Mom, usually finishing up some goodies in the kitchen, wiped her hands on her apron and ran over to share in the love. Then it was on to Grandma and Granddad Kemp's house for more of the same.

Now a grandmother myself, I try hard to give to my little granddaughters the same feeling of peace, love and gratitude that my family instilled in me. I pray they will grow up understanding the magnificent love of the Almighty God who sent His son to teach us humility, kindness, forgiveness, compassion and love for all. Praise God for His precious Son, our greatest gift. Silent night. Holy night.