Sitting here listening to old Christmas songs—not just traditional carols, but recordings from many different artists over the years—I’m swept back to my younger days, when life felt much simpler. Some of those artists are gone now, some are still with us, yet their music stirs the same memories. Those were years before everything seemed so complicated, when Christmas did not feel buried under marketing and the frantic rush to buy more, or perhaps I was simply less aware of it then. Either way, compared to today’s relentless advertising, the season seemed quieter and less commercial.

Most people have a certain era that defines the “Christmas music of our day.” That span of time usually lines up with when we are first becoming truly self-aware. It is when songs begin to stick in our minds, when family traditions take root, and when the anticipation and wonder of Christmas really come alive.

For children, the season often centers on presents, toys, and treats. For adults, the focus can shift toward remembering the true reason for Christmas. Some never move beyond the material side of it, and some choose not to—but that is a reflection best saved for another time.

The world is broken, and that brokenness constantly throws distractions in our path, pulling our attention away from what Christmas actually means. This is why the moment in the Charlie Brown Christmas special is so powerful, when Linus says, “Lights, please,” and recites the story so simply and clearly. In just a few lines, he brings the heart of Christmas back into view.

Christmas is, at its core, a time to gather and to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Everything else is background noise. What truly matters is how we respond in the middle of that noise: whether we allow the constant distractions to drown out the message, or choose instead to keep our hearts fixed on what Christmas is really about.