Although the holiday season is supposed to invoke feelings of joy and togetherness, this is not always the case for everyone, and rightfully so, when life tends to keep on living.

Award-winning film producer, bestselling author, motivational speaker, and preacher DeVon Franklin is known for creating and sharing uplifting entertainment. During the ESSENCE Holiday Celebration of Joy, he offered a powerful holiday prayer that reminded us all that a relationship with God is the gift that keeps on giving.

“The thing that I believe people need most during the holidays is hope,” Franklin told aspireTV in an exclusive interview following the event. 

“That, to me, is just one of the main things about the season that I really enjoy. The hope. The hope that you’re going to be okay, that everything’s gonna work out. Hope that you may not be where you want to be, but, you know, give it time, it’ll all work out,” he continued. “And just being around family, friends, and even those who don’t have that as an option, just to be alive and have hope that things are going to be different. That is one of the most important elements of the holiday.”

For those who find themselves overwhelmed by the emotional strain that can come during this time of the year, Franklin stresses that compassion is key.

“It’s very important for us to have more compassion for those who have very different experiences,” said Franklin. “Those going through pain, tragedy, and trauma. That shouldn’t even be regulated to the holiday season; it should be year-round. Being compassionate for one another, loving our neighbor as ourselves, to me, that is the underlying. If we can do that, all those other things begin to take care of themselves, and sometimes, especially in the holiday season, it’s about what’s on your Christmas list. What do you want? And there’s nothing wrong with that, but I also would challenge someone to not just focus on what you want, but focus on what you can give, and how we can be compassionate for each other.”

Franklin stressed the importance of making this holiday season much more than just the gifts under the Christmas tree, but more about what’s in your heart, and the hearts of those you love.

“I think sometimes what may get misunderstood or misaligned as it relates to the holiday season is the whole gift exchange,” he explained. “A lot of times, we focus on what I got for Christmas? Or what do I want for Christmas? And, in my experience, those things are irrelevant. What someone did or didn’t get you for Christmas isn’t even necessarily reflective of how they feel about or love you. They just may be reflective of their economic status.”

Franklin added, “Sometimes there’s a temptation to judge someone’s gift giving by what we believe they should do, and I think that just takes the spirit out of all of it. Where people can kind of, potentially, you know, veer in a direction that isn’t as positive, is looking at this season about getting, and ‘Oh, I didn’t get this. And so I’m going to be upset.’ Let go of all your expectations. Let it go. Let them go. Because expectations become future resentments, usually, let it go and just receive whatever comes in. Beyond receiving, be the best giver you can be. That doesn’t mean money. It could just be time. It could be compassion, it could be a smile, it could be a hug.”

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