Good Evening TXK
December is an odd month for a birthday. It’s a month all about holiday cheer, tangled lights, sugar highs, and, for me, a hearty dose of introspection. As I stood behind my “Happy Birthday, Jesus” sign (generously donated by SignMe Up), I could not help but laugh at how perfectly this little display sums up the shared celebration between me and, well, Jesus.
Yes, I share a birthday month with Jesus. The Bible doesn’t mention the exact date, but December 25 has become the day the world has chosen to celebrate the birth of Christ. Whether or not it was actually December 25 does not really matter to me, because I believe it is the spirit behind every decision and action we take that matters. The important question should always be, what is the intention of our heart? That is what I feel Jesus cares about. Christmas isn’t about the date. It is about the love we give and the gratitude we feel.
December is a month of reflection, a time to sit back and contemplate all that has happened over the past year. For me, my birthday is like a gift wrapped up under the Christmas tree with a nice, neat, pretty bow on top—a culmination of another trip around the sun, another year I’ve been blessed on this earth. As I blow out the candles on the blueberry muffins my mom makes for me every year on the 18th of December (our little birthday tradition), I realize I’m not just celebrating another year of my life. I am celebrating the many blessings that have come with it—a career in social media management, cherished family and friends, the talents God has bestowed upon me, and the opportunity to spread joy through these monthly articles in Texarkana Magazine, of course!
Thinking over this season and my journey thus far, I find such a profound sense of peace and gratitude for Jesus’ journey, too. No matter his birth date, Jesus knew struggle, He knew perseverance, and He knew what it meant to be misunderstood. Knowing Jesus lived a sinless life, despite experiencing every temptation, and subsequently took on the weight of the world so we could be redeemed, is humbling and awe-inspiring. And each Christmas, I feel an especially deep connection with that story.
Recently, I had a deep conversation with my friend Kara Humphrey. She shared something that I’ll carry for the rest of my days—“The point of everything we do isn’t always about what we can get from the experience. Sometimes it’s just about what we can give or do for someone else.” Christmas, like Kara said, is a season for giving. When we check our attitude, it becomes a privilege to give of ourselves with intention, with love, and with joy. When I look at my own life, I can clearly see the treasure trove of “gifts” I’ve been given that did not come in boxes or bags.
It is easy to let birthdays inflate our egos. We are showered with attention, love, and maybe indulge in a little too much partying. But as much as I love my birthday, I hope that as I celebrate, I remember to stand in awe and worship a God who is bigger than any gift and greater than any fleeting birthday wish.
Yes, I want to be loved. And yes, I want to love back with everything I have got. But more than that, I want to be part of something that points beyond myself to a love so profound and so limitless that it reshapes my life year after year. To me, that is what Christmas does. It points me back to Jesus, reminding me He is making all things new, including me, in His time.
The magic of Christmas can fade a little as we grow older and sometimes gives way to practicality, or even the pressures of adulthood. Boooorriingggg! Yet, even amid the trials and tribulations that each year brings, I remain so grateful for the reminder that despite my weaknesses and all my many mistakes, I am still loved deeply and fully. That doesn’t negate the seriousness of my sin in God’s eyes, but I am constantly and consistently being drawn to the Creator of the entire universe despite my flaws, and that’s a miracle only Jesus could pull off. TAKE THAT SANTA!
For my birthday this year, the only kinds of gifts I want are the warmth of unconditional love, relationships that strengthen and uplift me, and laughter that spills over and fills every hardened or bitter crevice of my heart. The world tends to breed that malice in us sometimes as we grow up–contempt where there should be unrelenting affection, hostility where there should be generosity, or resentment where there should be unbridled forgiveness. Do not allow the world to harden your heart. Open yourself up to joy.
Above all, I am grateful for December—a time to celebrate, to laugh, to reflect, and to give thanks. For me, the joy of Christmas and my birthday won’t be found in presents or parties, but in the moments of connection and reflection. This holiday season, let’s celebrate with joy, with gratitude, and with hearts full of awe. Merry Christmas, friends, and a very happy birthday to Jesus… and Bailey!
LIVE MUSIC
December 5
Texarkana Regional Chorale Presents Magnificat
First Presbyterian Church
12 pm
December 7
Andrew Peterson presents Behold the Lamb of God
Trinity Baptist Church
7 pm
December 12
Caleb Young
The Duke Bar & Grill
7:30 pm
December 14
Joey Green
Whiskey River Country
8 pm
December 15
Christmas at the Perot
Historic Perot Theatre
4 pm
December 20
CW & Twenty Hands High
Whiskey River Country
5 pm
December 20
Lane Bricker
Redbone Magic Brewing
7 pm
December 21
Jesse Keith Whitley with Caden Wilson
Whiskey River Country
9:30 pm
LOCAL EVENTS
December 2
Main Street Texarkana Christmas Parade
Downtown Texarkana
7 pm
December 4, 11, & 18
Free Wednesday Yoga
Southwest Center
5:30-6:30 pm
December 5
Bramlett, Beans, & Cornbread
Texarkana Texas Convention Center
11 am-1 pm
December 6 & 7
Holiday Arts Market
Texarkana Regional Arts Center
Friday 10 am-5 pm & Saturday 10 am-4 pm
December 6 & 7
A Christmas Stroll
Shopping, Caroling, Carriage Rides, and Live Music
Downtown Texarkana
December 6 & 7
Red River Hoopfest
Texas High School
December 6, 7, & 8
Community Ballet of Texarkana presents The Nutcracker
Historic Perot Theatre
December 7
Pol Care Luncheon
1 Legion Drive Texarkana, Arkansas
10 am-1 pm
December 12
Collage Clinic with Kay Thomas
Texarkana Regional Arts Center
6-8 pm
December 13
Photos with Santa
Farmers Bank & Trust
2900 St. Michael Drive
3-5 pm
December 13
Downtown Live!
Downtown Texarkana
6-9 pm
December 13 & 14
38th Annual Christmas & Candlelight
Historic Washington State Park
8 am-8 pm
December 14
We Are Washington Jingle Jog 5k Run & Fun Walk
Spring Lake Park
8 am-noon
December 14
Christmas Downtown
Merchants, Mr. & Mrs. Claus, Petting Zoo, & More
11 am-3 pm
December 15
Tough Kookie Foundation Cancer Support Group Meeting
Oak Street Baptist Church
4 pm
December 21
Christmas on Main
Historic Perot Theatre
10 am-7 pm
December 31
NYE Time Travel Party
1923 Banana Club
7 pm-1 am
