birth of Jesus

The Purpose of Christmas

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment
Image generated via AI,

When December rolls around, it’s easy to get swept up in the glittering lights, festive music, and the rush of holiday shopping. While these traditions bring joy and togetherness, the true meaning of Christmas runs much deeper—it’s about love, hope, and the gift of presence over presents.

At its heart, Christmas is a celebration of light breaking into darkness. For Christians, it marks the birth of Jesus Christ, a moment that symbolizes God’s love and the promise of redemption. But even beyond faith traditions, the season carries a universal message: kindness, generosity, and connection matter more than material things.

Christmas invites us to show love in tangible ways—through compassion, forgiveness, and time spent with those who matter most. It’s a reminder that relationships are the real treasures of life.

The story of Christmas is one of hope against all odds. Whether you’re facing personal challenges or global uncertainty, the season whispers that brighter days are ahead.

Gift-giving is beautiful when it reflects thoughtfulness rather than obligation. Sometimes the most meaningful gifts are not bought—they’re shared moments, heartfelt words, or acts of service.

Amid the noise, Christmas offers a chance to slow down, reflect on the year, and realign with what truly matters. It’s a season to let go of grudges and embrace peace.

The true meaning of Christmas isn’t meant to fade when the decorations come down. Carrying its spirit into everyday life—through kindness, gratitude, and empathy—can transform not just the season, but the entire year.

In the end, Christmas is less about what’s under the tree and more about who’s around it. It’s about hearts opening, hands giving, and hope shining brightly, and of course, God’s love in motion that forgives the sins of the world through Jesus.

(I have been experimenting with AI. A good portion of this blog post was written via AI.)

Copyright © 2025 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

The Little Drummer Boy

/ Mark Brady / 2 Comments

I saw the posted image in Facebook the other day.  I had to read it twice before my mind drew the correct image of what was being said.  Then I laughed, and immediately shared it with a couple of friends.  One didn’t get it until I started singing the song.  If they had gotten it on their own they wouldn’t have had to hear me sing, “Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum!”

“Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum! That line has become synonymous with the Christmas season as part of the beloved carol “The Little Drummer Boy.” The song is believed to have been written by Katherine K. Davis, and it was first recorded in 1951. The lyrics are in the first person, and the speaker is a little drummer boy at the manger scene who had nothing to give baby Jesus but his drum solo. The song is sweet, reverent, and imaginative, but, no, the little drummer boy is not in the Bible.”

Source: gotquestions.org

This Christmas song was not one of my favorites, at all.  That is, until I heard a version of it by, “White Heart”.  I found the song dull and boring before, but not anymore.

A few days have gone by since that Facebook post, but then yesterday, as April and I were out running errands and a particular Christmas song came on the radio, it dawned on me, I haven’t paused yet to reflect the true meaning of Christmas.  I haven’t stopped long enough to prepare my heart to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Back to the little drummer boy; whether just a made up story or not, taking time to give Jesus what you have is a valuable lesson to reflect on.  He had nothing to give, but his talent of playing drums.  If it was true, I can see him standing there in perfect single formation, playing that drum with all of his heart!  Playing an anthem fit for a king, and in this case the King of Kings.

Copyright © 2021 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.