Montreux Christmas Market, A Little Christmas blog

I find that spending Christmas without my family has been far more difficult than I had imagined back in May when I first came to Europe. I remember thinking that everyone needs to spend at least one Christmas away from their family, to build character. Now, I’m not so sure that still rings true. I doubt it has anything to do with character to be away from one’s family. It just goes to show how much family or friends truly mean to you once you can’t see them at Christmas.

I imagine that it would be much more trying without todays latest communication breakthroughs such as Skype or Facebook. Yet even with them I still long to be home more than I have before. I guess that there comes a time in many young adults lives when the shift from friend importance moves back to family importance. Taking place after those tired years where we depended on the advice and thoughts of our friends more than our family. Now I find that I’m looking more and more to my parents for advice, and actually taking it. Now that I’m starting to grow closer to my family it makes being away from home all the more upsetting.

This could also be a personality test. I’m sure there are many people who have no problem being away from home at Christmas. It allows them the freedom to avoid all the family drama, awkward presents, Aunt Claire’s overwhelming perfume, ect. For some, Christmas might not be much more than opening presents Christmas morning and a fancy dinner, both of which can be done anywhere. For me though I have started to find new importance in Christmas. It’s a time to recognize God’s glory through his sending of Jesus Christ to Earth. The most amazing thing in history happened and Christmas is the time of year to celebrate how much God loves us, how much Jesus sacrificed and how connected we all really are! This connection can only make me think of family and wanting to be near them.

I know that this time next year I will be celebrating at home surrounded by crowds at the mall, traffic, decorations but most of all my closest family and friends, near to me once more. I just have to try and have a merry little Christmas, even while my family is far away.Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Let your heart be light
Next year all our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Next year all our troubles will be out of sight

Once again as in olden days
happy golden days of your
faithful friends who are dear to us,

will be near to us once more

Someday soon we all will be together
until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow

So have yourself a merry little christmas now

- B