The Gift

Having opened our presents yesterday at our house for Christmas, I am able to get on Facebook and look through all the pictures and videos of friends and family enjoying their Christmas mornings this morning. The best part is seeing the joy on all the kids' faces.
I think of the joy that must have been on Mary and Joseph's faces upon finally meeting their Gift. No, this Gift was not just for them to enjoy, but the entire world. For the wealthy wise men. For the lowly shepherds. For the young. For the old. For the healthy. For the weak. There should be joy on everyone's face, as they have been given the original Gift of God's son, who was sent for our salvation. No, He's not the latest phone or video game console or character doll. He is so much better.

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:16-18)

Merry Christmas to all!

(Mary) Did You Know?

Year after year at Christmas, I see or hear people talk about "putting Christ back in Christmas." Yes, where that's a nice sentiment, and yes He is the reason for the season, but what people don't realize is our traditions actually weren't originally centered around Christ. Did you know that it took over 300 years to decide what day to celebrate Jesus' birth? (No, Jesus wasn't born on December 25th and we didn't miraculously remember it all these years.) In fact, according to Roman records, the census that Mary and Joseph had to participate in typically happened in the springtime. The real reason we celebrate on December 25th is because the Catholic Church wanted to offset the pagan celebration of the winter solstice.
As for traditions, did you realize that the celebration of Christmas was actually banned for quite some time, even when America was "discovered" (think about that before you say United States was founded on religion...it was founded on religious FREEDOM, the freedom to worship how you wanted, but not as a religion-based country). Think of the song "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Now think of the lines, "Bring us some figgy pudding" and "Won't go until we get some." Those aren't polite requests. Tradition of medieval times was to loot and raid and have one long, continuous party. Carolers weren't groups of people with sometimes questionable musical talents. They may have sung a tune or two, but that was only to get you to the door to demand refreshments and gifts. And don't even think about dodging them like Jehovah's Witnesses...if you didn't come to the door, they took it as a sign that no one was home and would break in and raid your home. Christmas of the olden days was full of madness and mayhem, and almost NOTHING to do with Christ. It wasn't until Queen Victoria embraced her husband's German customs of family and children for all to see that people calmed down and thought about things more important than getting drunk (though it seems many people still feel a "holiday" is an excuse to go all out).
A final thought...some Christians today get very upset over the term Xmas (I'm not bashing Christians, I'm just letting you know if you didn't know this as I did...or didn't...know, that is). They say that it's people being lazy and not wanting to write out the word Christmas or that it is non-believers wanting to go through the motions of celebrating the holiday but by leaving Jesus out of it. In some cases this may be true. But in truth the joke is on them. By using the term Xmas, they are actually leaving Christ in. I didn't know this. I had started to believe the laziness or non-believer aspect as well. But I did research (you know my penchant for wanting to know obscure things) and discovered that the Greeks actually used the letter "X" to represent Christ. Early Christians then adopted this around the time when they were being jailed and killed for their beliefs to prove they were Christians. So when Christmas became official, the "X" was just incorporated.
There's many other traditions that I thought were interesting but would take you quite a while to read, so I may save those for another day.


Merry Xmas!

Where Are You, Christmas?

There are mixed feelings when this time of year come around. First and foremost, this time of year makes me a kid again! The lights, the presents, the music...the excitement is almost overwhelming. I love driving at night and passing by houses that have their lights lit. Even if it's as simple as seeing a tree through the front window, I just get this warm fuzzy feeling. I always try to find the station on the radio that plays Christmas music 24/7. I can't wait to wrap presents and see them all under the tree, waiting for my loved ones to open them and I get to see the expressions on their faces. This time of year just makes me...happy.
Another feeling I get occasionally is, I guess you'd call it pity. I feel sorry for the people who don't see Christmas as I see it. They dread the upcoming family gatherings, knowing so-and-so is so obnoxious and so-and-so likes to gossip. They go Christmas gift shopping like it's a chore, and usually buy a lame gift card instead of putting love and thoughtfulness and creativity into getting a gift. People in stores are worried about getting in and out quickly, everything's rushed, and people are just in general disgruntled. That's not what Christmas is about.
Christmas is joy. It's laughter. It's family. It's peace on Earth. It's not about how much a person can get, or how much a person can spend on a gift. It's about receiving one Gift. One very IMPORTANT gift, and that would be Jesus. Now, I'm not one to spout on and on about religion. I believe in God and Jesus and the mighty works they both have done and do every day. But I never feel the need to go out and preach to every person I meet. I know that may be wrong, and that's how I should be. But Christmas brings out something in me. After all, that's what, or should I say WHO Christmas is about. God loved us so much that he sent Jesus. Even though the world is cruel and disgusting and full of sin, He still loved it enough to do that.
THAT is Christmas, people. It's not about the latest video games or computer systems. It's not about getting the latest purse or fashion accessory. It's about love...especially God's love, for a world that doesn't deserve it.