A Father to His Infant Son Regarding Christmas

The first year after my son was born, I made it a weekly habit to write him letters documenting many of my thoughts and feelings during his first year of life.

This is one of those letters… sort of. The original “Dear Jackrabbit” letter contained family stuff that is important to literally no one outside our house. Still, there were a lot of things in those letters that I believe worthy of sharing.

Forgive me my indulgence if I think this might be one of those things–particularly as we are drawn ever-deeper into the holiday season.

Presented here, slightly revised for more public consideration, is my son’s first “Dear Jackrabbit” Christmas letter.

Dear Jackrabbit,

Today is Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

You and your mother just left for church–your second time going to church in less than 12 hours. We went to Midnight Mass last night and now I’m busy helping Santa rewrap presents. He was in kind of a rush and didn’t do that neat a job.

It’s been a busy week leading up to today. Last night we had many friends and family over for a big meal and some gift exchanges. You were passed around a lot from person to person and showered with a whole lot of love.

That happens a lot, whether or not you remember it.

So welcome to the Christmas season. Your first.

What is Christmas?

Good question. It’s a lot of things to a lot of people.

For many people, it’s a religious holiday. The celebration of the birth of Jesus. This aspect of the holiday has changed and evolved a lot over time. Whole centuries went by when it was scarcely acknowledged at all. Today, various religions and sects practice the celebration a little differently from one another, but on the whole, it’s all for the same reason.

But Christmas isn’t only a religious holiday. Not anymore. Over time, Christmas has adopted traditions and trappings from cultures all over the world. Mostly from Europe, but some from parts of Asia, and the Americas. What we see of Christmas today would be wholly unrecognizable to some shepherd on the outskirts of Bethlehem some two thousand years ago.

So there’s the religious aspect. And the input of local traditions. What else?

For me, the most important message and purpose behind Christmas is one nearly everyone on the globe can share.

It’s a yearly reminder that the world is better place when we’re kinder to one another. That the world is a better place when we consider our brothers and sisters from all over the world, and from next door, and within our own families.

Be good to one another. Peace on Earth.

This isn’t a hard message, and it seems a shame that we need a big holiday once a year to remind us of this, but it’s a welcome reminder just the same.

We show our kindness and our love to one another in many different ways. Sometimes it’s with presents. Sometimes it’s with a good meal and fellowship. Other times it’s by engaging in an act of kindness. These are things we are reminded of once a year–and the reminder is that we should be doing stuff like this all the year long.

Christmas can be every day of the year if you so will it.

It’s hard, I admit. We are human, but we do our best. The ideal, however, is to carry the Christmas spirit all throughout the year, regardless of religion or traditions or any of that other baggage. The Christmas spirit is bigger than all of that.

It’s all about love, baby.

I will admit, though, that on Christmas Day, it’s awful fun to open presents. And Christmas Eve was awful fun sharing and enjoying a big meal with family and friends. It’s a hectic time of year, but I think we’re all building up some good energy to keep that spirit moving forward.

So be kind.

When you get right down to it, when you get past all the symbols and images and traditions…that’s the true meaning of Christmas.

Be kind.

All my love,

Dad

P.S. Oh… another cool thing about Christmas is putting candy canes in your coffee without judgment. Try it when you get older. Trust me.

Father knows best.