Personally, the true reason we celebrate Christmas has really relieved a lot of my anxieties regarding my walk with the Lord, as have simply learning and growing in the faith.

Before I read 1 Corinthians and Romans (and covid happened), I was desperate to find a church since I was raised to believe that going to a church building with others was essential to my salvation. In reality, church can be anywhere and anything. Listening to InspiringPhilosophy and Sentinel Apologetics on Youtube ripping on Young Earth Creationism for three hours is church. Silently reading the Bible on my phone before bed is church. Having a discussion about God, even just briefly with friends and family, is church. Listening to Oceans by Hillsong on repeat while driving is church. Praying to God while in the shower is church. Going for a hike and admiring God's creation is church. Scratching chi-roh on a boulder with a rock in the wilderness is church. Creating art and music is church. Anytime we remember Christ, we are in church. 

God is too big to be confined to four walls and/or a large congregation of people early Sunday morning. He is everywhere. He was, is, and is to come. His handiwork is evident in the tiniest atom and the brightest galaxies. He knew us long before He even created the universe. Why do some Christians still condemn those who worship God beyond the steepled building and congregation? 

Truth is, I'll never understand the mindset of the Pharisees, who think God is so small that He can only dwell in a church on Sunday, and so fragile that if Starbucks stops serving coffee in cups that say "Merry Christmas" on them, somehow the world will forget Who God is. 

Speaking of which, I strongly detest the idea of commercializing the sacred symbols and celebrations of Christianity. I would feel very uncomfortable buying wrapping paper with sacred Christian symbols randomly printed on it. I cringe every time I see an Aryan Jesus. I stay away from cheap plastic crucifixes. I wouldn't be offended in the slightest if "happy holidays" replaced every mention of "merry Christmas" in non-Christian stores. I could never understand why some people get so damn upset whenever another corporation decides to print "happy holidays" instead of "merry Christmas" on their products. God is too big and powerful to be stamped out by some secular corporation deciding to serve coffee in simple red cups instead of specifically Christmas cups. 

But, I think I'm straying from the point I'm trying to make. In short, I worship the infinite Creator of all things, Who was, is, and is to come, Who is everywhere at every time. I worship a God so powerful that all He had to do to create everything was say, "Let there be light", yet so gentle that He welcomed little children to sit in His lap. I worship a God who loves His creation so much, that He figured it was worth it to create us and sacrifice Himself for us even though we all have, do, and will willfully sin against Him during our short lives. Hence is why I celebrate Christmas.