Christmas Colors, Life’s Layers

This Christmas, I spent some time wandering through the malls, camera in hand, capturing every decoration that caught my eye. Twinkling lights, sparkling ornaments, colorful trees, and little festive details tucked into corners. As I looked closer, I realized that Christmas is truly a season of colors — the reds of warmth and celebration, the greens of hope and renewal, and the golds of light and abundance. These colors surround us in ornaments, ribbons, and wreaths, bold and bright, creating the feeling of a perfect, festive world. Yet beneath the brightness, there are layers that these colors cannot hide, layers that reflect the reality of life itself.

Red is joyful, but it is also the shade of hurried hearts and tense nerves. It can be the color of long shopping lines, last-minute preparations, or arguments that flare up during holiday dinners. It represents love, but it also carries frustration and impatience. Green is hopeful and fresh, reminding us of growth and new beginnings. Yet it can also bring quiet reminders of envy, missed opportunities, or the longing for something we do not have. Gold shines with abundance and celebration, yet it can highlight our losses, the things we wish were different, or the moments when life does not feel as golden as the lights on the tree.

Life, much like Christmas, is layered. The cheerful surface is only one part of the picture. Underneath, there are unwrapped moments of worry, regret, hope, and resilience. These are the colors that do not make it to the glossy wrapping paper, but they are the ones that give depth to our lives and meaning to our experiences. Each layer matters. Each layer tells a story.

I hang ornaments not just for decoration, but as small reminders that life is not meant to be perfect. Some ornaments are shiny, some are chipped, some are handmade from scraps. Together, they tell a story of living fully, even when life is messy. Some layers are difficult to see, but they are still part of the whole. They make the bright moments brighter and the quiet moments richer.

This Christmas, I embrace all the layers of my life. I notice the reds that burn with love, joy, and sometimes frustration. I see the greens that stretch toward dreams and reflect both growth and longing. I feel the golds that glimmer through small victories, moments of gratitude, and unexpected kindness. In every layer, there is a quiet celebration: the celebration that I am still here, still trying, still living beneath the misses and beyond the mess.

I do not claim to be a color expert or a professional in any way. These are simply my reflections, inspired by the colors I see around me and the feelings they stir within me. Colors may mean different things to different people, and life itself is even more complex than I can describe. But even without expertise, I have learned that there is beauty in noticing the layers, in acknowledging the imperfect, and in finding meaning in both the bright and hidden colors of our lives.

Christmas colors are more than just festive decoration. They can serve as gentle reminders that life is layered, that every experience matters, and that even in the mess, there is still something to celebrate. While the reds, greens, and golds bring warmth and joy, they also point us toward the deeper meaning of the season. The true essence of Christmas is not found in perfection, presents, or glittering lights — it is in the birth of our Savior, a moment of hope and love that changed the world. These colors, in their own way, can help us pause and reflect on that light, the love that redeems, and the reason we celebrate, even when life feels complicated or messy.

From my heart to yours, may your Christmas be filled with warmth, peace, and love. May you find joy in the bright colors, comfort in the quiet moments, and hope in every layer of your life. Merry Christmas and may the spirit of the season bless you and your loved ones always. - MESSY E.

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