Christmas .

It has been written and sung as the most wonderful time of the year.

Amongst the carols heard on high, giving of gifts and the preparation of a feast laid out across the family table there is such a lead up to the day.

It is a time of nostalgia. A time filled with our families - the ones we are born into and the ones we choose.

It is a season of love and kindness. A time to celebrate and say goodbye to the year that was.

It is a time of magic, of leaving a cup of milk and biscuits for Santa, or perhaps a cheeky light beer and a carrot for Rudolph. The anticipation of catching a glimpse of the man in red and waiting to see if your Christmas wish will be waiting under the tree.

It can also be a time where it is overwhelming riddled with sadness and anxiety.

There can be moments of walking on eggshells, family arguments over the silliest of things to last minute shopping rage where even the calmest of people can snap, as easy as tearing a candy cane out of its sticky wrap.

There is the pressure to buy the perfect gift, to have a perfect decorated tree or the perfect outfit to share on social media. There is a lot of pressure to make sure the day merry and bright.

We don't care if we go into debt to make sure everyone is happy or to keep up with appearances.

It can be a time of consumerism and feeling consumed by it all.

Who is bringing the ham?

Who is making the pavlova?

What is the limit for the Secret Santa gift?

But sometimes we just need to stop for a bit and rewind. Perhaps simplicity is the Christmas theme for 2022.

One of my favourite parts of December is when the kiddies school books come home and you see just how much they have grown and learned. In particular the art creations are my favourite.

As I was looking through the books I found this gem created by my son of baby Jesus, born in a manger.

To me this is the most important origin Christmas story.

While there are some parts to the story that many would believe is far fetched. However the story of the baby born in Bethlehem and the promise to help humankind is where the power lies. If we strip back the embellishment of the story there is beauty to be found in its simple message.

The baby Jesus Christ was born in a stable, to humble parents, who were shown kindness and love in a time of need.

This baby would change the world. He would go on to teach and show how to put the kind into humankind.

That is the true meaning of Christmas. To be kind. To gift kindness. Remember kindness. All the other parts are the cherries on top of the trifle.

It was my son's artwork, that really shows the power of one moment. It may not be shiny and filled with glitter but it is warm, cozy, and there is a glow that surrounds us.

Then there is s a bright star watching over us. That star might be our loved ones who are no longer with us , our friends and family who we can’t be with at Christmas or maybe it is there to guide us into another season.

Maybe it is there to help someone in need this Christmas, who might not be so blessed, who is struggling in a world that has only shown hardship.

It is this star and how it brings light to our world, that reminds us we are not alone and to perhaps share our light with others.

Let our hearts be light.

Big love Fallon xox