Call me Charlie Brown, but every Christmas season I attempt to discover true meaning in a holiday that has become quite shallow by modern definition. Over the past few years especially, it seems the holiday season has become nothing more than a full-scale assault on our bank accounts, and a time when businesses all over the country try to balance out their annual figures with sales that have people turning violent just to save a few dollars. A time originally intended to celebrate family, generosity and, above all, Christ, has now turned into a time of greed and materialism for many people across the world.

Now don’t get me wrong. I already know the true meaning of Christmas, but, at least for me, that meaning is something you must rediscover on a yearly basis in order to fully appreciate it. It’s easy to fool ourselves into believing that we “understand Christmas” just because we have a nativity set in our living room, yet still miss out on the blessings God has for His children during this special time of year.

Yesterday evening, as I was trudging through the Christmas snow, I found myself singing the song “How Many Kings” by Downhere. It’s a song I’ve sung many times, but it doesn’t always sink in. Yesterday was different, though, and I was overwhelmed with a sense of joy as I sung out, “How many kings stepped down from their thrones? How many Lords have abandoned their homes? How many greats have become the least for me? How many gods have poured on their heart to romance a world that is torn all apart? How many fathers gave up their son for me?”

Only One has ever given of himself so completely and so freely as Christ did. He didn’t just sacrifice Himself one time while dying on a cross;  He gave His life away every day of those 33 years He walked this earth. He did what no one else had ever, would ever, or could ever do: He saved us. That, my friend, is the true meaning of Christmas.