Christmas Final #9 in the 12 Blogs of Christmas





It had been the hardest two weeks of her collegiate career. The gauntlet of finals in her senior year was arduous enough but she had a thesis deadline looming as well. Her airline ticket home was the carrot dangling at the end of a very long stick. 

She’d always gone home for Christmas—even when it meant taking the red eye and studying at 35,000 feet. 








Bleary eyed from her all nighter, she walked into Room 505. The professor stood unsmiling behind his lectern. Coffee, she needed coffee. None was allowed. He instructed everyone to take the test packet, place it face down until he called time.

Paper shuffling sounds filled the auditorium. Looking at the sea of faces the professor nodded to begin.

Turning the packet over, she raised her eyebrows in confusion. All of the pages were filled with the professor’s notes throughout the fast-paced quarter. No questions to answer. She could hear others paging through the packet. On the final page was one question. 





In 100 words or less explain what Christmas means to you.

She sat staring at the question for several minutes. During college Christmas had become a well-deserved break. But what did Christmas really mean for her? She picked up her pencil.





Tomorrow I’m flying home—a long flight for a short break, but home is where I first learned about Christmas. Christmas gives me hope that this life is not all there is. Life is more than my future career. Christ came to show us how to live, which we don’t always do well, but we can keep trying. Christmas isn’t about my presents; it’s about my purpose. Christmas reminds me I’m here to help others and to do what I can to bring joy to those who come my way—including you. Christmas begins with hope and ends with love.
She handed her test packet to the professor giving him a tired smile. She had a plane to catch.


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