The Spirit Of Christmas Through The Eyes Of A Non-Christian Immigrant

Shahina Lakhani

How do I feel about Christmas? As someone who was not born or raised a Christian, this question has been with me for a long time. No, I have not converted and I do not intend to convert. That is not even the point here. So what is point, you might ask.

The point is that I have come a long way in my understanding of the Spirit of Christmas. When I first came to this country, I wondered why everybody flocked to the malls at year end.

Then I slowly learned about the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. I was perplexed when I first learned that people often spend the money they do not have during this season to keep up with the compulsion of giving gifts to each other.

Is it about spending money? I began wondering. But people said they wanted to express their love and appreciation through gifts. So is Christmas about spending to show love? I was still confused. I used to say that I do not celebrate Christmas because I did not want to be a part of this compulsion to spend.

Decades later, I have learned more and have begun to understand the Spirit of Christmas a little better. I still do not buy into the spending part but I am totally sold on the Spirit of Christmas as I understand it. 

To me as a foreigner who has made this country her home and also as a Muslim, Christmas reminds me of the promise of Divine love, unity and compassion.

Christmas reminds me of the teachings of Christ who walked the earth healing people even when they were not his followers. He told us of a God who is compassionate, loving and forgiving.

Christ taught us to not judge others unless we were ready to be judged. He taught us to love one another. He taught us to have compassion.

He said we could walk on water if only we believed. Killing others for any reason was not in his vocabulary.

To Christ love is the only answer to all the evil in the world.

As we celebrate Christmas again this year, let us embrace the Spirit of The Christ. Let us bring his teachings back to life. Let us all resolve to live our life a little bit more like the way Jesus prayed we all would live. 

Yours in love, peace and gratitude

Shahina Lakhani

Shahina Lakhani RN MSN Author, Poet, Speaker, Holistic Life Change Strategist. She advocates using holistic strategies in personal empowerment, care of the sick, the dying and their loved ones. Shahina Lakhani has been a nurse for more than 25 years. She has worked as an educator, Nurse Practitioner and a Hospice Nurse. Her passion is to empower people to Live Powerfully and experience Wellbeing until their last breath.

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