SHERIFF BROWN

secular in nature. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church worship services, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for “Santa Claus” to arrive. December 25th, Christmas Day, has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.

How did Christmas begin? The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Masses of people rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them, and they could look forward to lengthier days.

It was not until the 19th century that Americans began to embrace Christmas. Americans re-invented Christmas and changed it from a carnival holiday into a family-centered day of peace and nostalgia.

The full Biblical account of Christmas, as celebrated today, is found in book of Luke, chapter 2, verses, 4-19. This Gospel tells the story of the baby Jesus’ birth to Mary and Joseph, an engaged couple from Nazareth. Mary had conceived through a miracle after an angel appeared to her revealing that she would give birth to the Son of God.

Through a series of events that led Mary and Joseph out of Nazareth, this baby, Jesus, was born in a manger in a stable. Though the exact date of his birth is unknown, Christians have celebrated this event on December 25 every year.

The holidays observed in the month of December appear to focus on the importance of family, feasts and giving, and nothing in the world is more important than family. It is a place where we all can cast aside the insecurities or uncertainties of life.

I am extremely fortunate, and abundantly blessed to have been nurtured in a close-nit and loving family. Because of my family, I am who I am today. At an early stage in life, my parents instilled in my brothers, sisters and I, the values of family and togetherness. During the holiday season, our family always prepared and enjoyed huge feasts, games and sharing with our extended family, friends, neighbors, as well as provided necessities for the less fortunate. Those trends for my family currently exists. I truly understand that the love of a family is life’s greatest blessing. Being a family means you are part of something wonderful. It means you will love and be loved for the rest of your life, regardless of the circumstances.

I have learned that you don’t need a reason to help people, because if you do good for others, it will come back to you in unexpected ways, and when we help others, our lives flourish. It is good to be blessed; however, it is better to be a blessing.

I encourage you to help people even when you know they cannot provide help in return, as one of the most important things you can do on this earth is let people know they are not alone.