Happy Holiday

I've really been experiencing a personal conviction about Christmas this year. There has been a big commotion over recent years regarding calling Christmas what it is. For years we have watched movies, cartoons, and listened to music that reminds us about Christmas. Often times they start out with celebrations of Santa and presents and then they turn into a lesson about the "real" meaning of Christmas. Christmas is supposed to be a time of giving, not receiving. It's a time that we celebrate God's greatest gift, Jesus.

For years Christians have been battling the secular world (in all of it's political correctness) to keep the freedom to display nativity scenes and other such things in order celebrate the One who was born to save the world. We battle a world that says that we're "offending" them. We're "pushing" our beliefs on them. Hello? Christmas is a celebration of CHRIST!??? It's a Christian celebration, a Christian holy day...or it's supposed to be anyhow.

In corporate America, today, many shopping centers avoid the use of the word CHRISTmas. Instead, they sell holiday trees, and use the idea of Santa Claus and presents to entice shoppers to spend spend spend. I've even heard a really stupid sounding advertisement over the television that sings, "We wish you a happy holiday. We wish you a happy holiday. We wish you a happy holiday and a happy new year". Give me a break! Do these advertisers realize how ridiculous that sounds? Nevertheless, Christians (including myself) are amongst the many shoppers participating in this madness! Secular society has stolen a Christian celebration. Or, perhaps we've just given it away by joining in on the wrong idea of what the holiday should be about.

For much too long now, Christians have bought into the greed centered commercialism that Christmas has become. Just a couple days ago, on Black Friday,in all the greed and madness, shoppers everywhere trampled other shoppers while trying to get the best deals. There were injuries, fights, stealing, and all in the name of "Christmas". What a joke.

Amongst the many shoppers in the stampedes, I'm sure were many Christians, also trying to get the latest and greatest gift at the lowest price. I believe that Christmas has been a thing of the past for a very long time now. We have been celebrating a holiday...not a holy day. Christ hasn't been a part of Christmas for a very long time. Retailers realize it. I only hope that soon, Christians catch on.

Over the next year, I will be reconsidering how I celebrate the holiest day of the year. After a lifetime of Santa and presents...along with reminding my children what Christmas really should be about, it will be difficult to change things. I will be praying for God to show me how I can stop worshipping Him and "Santa Claus" too. I really want my Christmas celebration to be about Jesus and giving. I want to say goodbye to the holiday and hello again to the Holy Day. I have really had an awakening this year.

American Family has sent out a petition against retailers who are leaving Christ out of Christmas. I say let the retailers have their holiday! But let us, brothers and sisters in Christ, remember the HOLY day...and celebrate it as if unto God. After all aren't we supposed to do all things for His glory? We have been created to worship HIM! Now is a wonderful opportunity for Christians to give Christmas back to Christ. Celebrate the Gift and not the presents. It's okay to give gifts, if it is done with the same heart that God gave us His. Let our gifts bring Him glory.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11)