Have you caught the excitement of Christmas yet? If you are like most of us you’ve already spread your wish list as far and wide as possible. Dropping outrageous hints or actual list to all those you hope will be interested in adding to your stash of goodies under the tree. Hopefully at this stage you are also mature enough to have done some gift buying yourself, having made the transition from just taker to also giver. Christmas is full of fun, frenzy and family to be sure. And of all our holidays it may be the oddest.
Why? Because it is a major religious holiday that folks celebrate even when they don’t believe. After all, if you are not Jewish you probably don’t celebrate Hanukkah. If you are not a Buddhist you don’t participate in Wesak. While non-followers of Islam don’t commemorate Ramadan or those who know nothing of Hinduism mark the festival of Diwali. Yet people who scoff at Christianity whoop it up on Christmas and no one seems to find that strange.
Now I’m not begrudging anyone family time, happiness, or gifts. But as a Christian it does make me sad that the reality of Jesus’ birth is so over shadowed by the myth of Santa Claus. If you are growing up in a non-believing home as I did, you are old enough now to investigate for yourself the real reason for Christmas. A good place to start is in the New Testament in the Gospel of Luke (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1&version=NIV). Luke was a Greek doctor and both his background and training made him a person who paid strict attention to details and facts.
From personal experience I can assure you that though the gifts that Santa will bring you may be great, the many gifts Jesus Christ makes available to you, if you accept Him as your savior, are priceless.
Merry Christmas and all Blessings to you and your family!
“ 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Luke 2:8-10 NIV
“I don’t think Christmas is necessarily about things. It’s about being good to one another, it’s about the Christian ethic, it’s about kindness.” Carrie Fisher, actress, author
