Do you remember when you were little and you were getting ready to make your Christmas wish list? Maybe you wrote a letter to Santa Claus, hoping that if you had been "good" Santa would bring you some of the gifts you had asked for. Or maybe you simply wanted something so badly that months before Christmas you started talking about it to your mom, your dad, your aunt, your grandma, and anyone else you knew who could give you that gift, hoping that one of them would finally grant your wish on that special day.

Christmas gift lists, however, are not the same as Christmas wishes. I want you to join me for a moment in remembering one of the happiest Christmases you had as a child. Remember the smells of the food, your family's laughter, your mom bustling about preparing everything, and the midnight hugs. Now, let's return to the present. How do you prepare for Christmas? We all want, humanly speaking, to give something special to our loved ones, as tradition dictates. But the gifts "under the tree" aren't what we remember.

I remember once asking for a doll, one of those that all the little girls wanted for Christmas. My dad had told me he wouldn't be able to get it, and I had resigned myself to it. But I remember seeing him leave very early, almost running, because the store was opening, and after a few days I understood that he had made a great sacrifice to get me the doll I wanted. I don't remember what kind of doll it was, but I do remember what my dad did for me.

So, to help you prepare for this Christmas, I'm leaving you with this wish list, which I hope will help you have a holiday surrounded by what matters most: the love of Jesus and your loved ones:

1. Jesus at the center: He is the true meaning of Christmas. I pray that Jesus will bless you and your family abundantly.
2. Your family and friends: I hope you are surrounded by your loved ones this Christmas. And if some are unable to be with you for any reason, may their love and memories be present around your table.
3. More Mindful Hugs: I wish that the hugs from your loved ones will be more mindful this Christmas. What do I mean by this? That the secret to happiness lies in the small details that we make sure don't go unnoticed. Be mindful of the hugs you give and receive, cherish them as memories, and treasure them in your heart.
4. The gift of forgiveness: Life is made up of moments. I hope you can give one of the most precious gifts: your forgiveness. Forgive someone, if you haven't already, this Christmas. Give yourself the inner peace that comes only when we truly forgive.
5. The little things: make the invisible visible. I want you to take a deep breath and exhale. Open your eyes wide and see what the people around you do for you. Little things make great memories.
6. Actions, not words: be intentional. My wish for you is that you transform the intangible into the tangible. Start with small acts of love this Christmas: help someone, call friends you haven't spoken to in a while to see how they are, do something for yourself like taking a 10-minute walk each day. Identify actions that allow you to grow as a person and be intentional about them.

May love, peace, and prosperity fill your home this Christmas. May Jesus be the center of it all and remind us that what is most precious is not found under the tree, but in the hearts of those around us.