Getting in the “holiday spirit” is not something that feels natural to me. I don’t tend to notice the holidays as they’re arriving. For years, the Christmas season brought with it a pattern that began with procrastinating even thinking about it, until the very last minute.

My focus, instead, was on finishing year-end projects at work. I would avoid shopping as long as possible; and then, wade into the melee of Christmas Eve commercial carnage. Immediately after, I would transform my purchases into badly-wrapped Christmas presents, rush across town to join family at a Christmas Eve church service and—deep breath—try to calm down, focus and remember what Christmas is all about anyways.

Several years ago, my wife and I began attending a church that follows a liturgical calendar. I had never before experienced and enjoyed the way it slowly invited and guided me out of my busy state and into a place of contemplation. I have since begun to allow the Advent season and contemplation to guide my heart and mind to a more grounded place.

This is the time of year that TV specials, musicians and churches promote their creative offerings: little ways to connect to their own, individual “reasons for the season.” They invite us to navigate our way through the sleep-lulling sameness of traditions; or they attempt to introduce a new, intriguing twist on the holiday theme that, if it doesn’t turn everyone off completely, could become next year’s tradition.

The other day, as I took a lunchtime walk to clear my head of the morning’s work, I reflected on what Christmas is about. I had recently listened to a radio interview where a singer shared openly that she didn’t believe in what Christmas was about; but she was enraptured by the song “Silent Night.” She sang it beautifully, as well. It was curious to hear someone so moved by something beautiful; yet unmoved by its meaning.

As I continued my walk, the word came to me: Grace. This is what Christmas is really about. Grace is the powerful concept of undeserved favor. Not random acts of kindness. Not being patient when you’d rather not. But, actually offering good to someone who deserves to be ignored, chastised, corrected or maybe even punished in some way. Undeserved favor. A second chance given to someone who won’t even acknowledge they blew the first one.

I don’t know if you believe in the Christmas story: the shepherds, the angels and wise men, the idea of God, wrapping himself in a human body and enduring human experiences. But it’s a story entirely about Grace, a story about a Creator offering favor to His Children, just because.

What does Grace mean to you?

We all need it. Sometimes we even demand it. I need grace from my wife and children. There are times when I simply don’t see the ways I’m failing them. During days of stress or impatience, when I “take advantage of others’ good graces,” I need grace from those I work with.

Am I willing to offer Grace, as well? I must consider: Who might benefit from experiencing undeserved favor this Christmas season? Who desperately needs it? Who might not be asking for it, might not appreciate it, definitely hasn’t earned it but needs grace?

Are you willing to offer them a tangible, meaningful expression of Grace this Christmas?