Merry Christmas
Christmas is a wonderful time of year, and it’s a terrible time of year. I look at the people who are shopping and I hear, “I didn’t know what to get her so I got this…” and I look at moms and dads who have a need to “buy enough” for their children for Christmas…. and I wonder how long they will have to pay on their maxed out credit cards at incredibly high rates. And I wonder what else families go without just so they can do Christmas up right.
I drive around my neighborhood at night and view amazing displays of lights. We are all too familiar with the light competitions. But why does it seem the poorest of homes have the big displays with blow up Santas in airplanes, Santa on motor cycles or just a blow up Santa who passes the roof line. These big decorations are so expensive.
I suppose it’s up to the individual to buy and spend what they want but it makes me sad. I see young people, just married, who are stretching their budget to make a reasonable life, day to day. And Christmas creates stress for them.
Christmas puts so many people behind the ball financially. Why do they do it?
I believe, like many people, that Christmas has gotten way out of hand. And it’s gotten that way through commercial manipulation by the assault and continual bombardment of advertising. Have you noticed that each year the stores have the Christmas stuff out a little earlier? And what about “Black Friday?”. Sounds like a national day of mourning… but it’s the commercially manipulated starting gun for the “shop til you drop” or “dig a little deeper in debt” syndromes that take over the lives of well meaning individuals and families.
I know that this isn’t what God had planned for us when He shared His only begotten Son with the world. I know in my heart of hearts that it grieves our Father to see children taught that Santa Clause is the Christmas provider. I know it grieves Him to see children focus on what they must have and parents focus on what they have to give, instead of focusing on the wonderful miracle of the birth of Jesus Christ. Stress and debt, gluttony and over indulgence are not gifts from God. God’s Christmas gift to us frees us from burdens, gives us joy and peace, and fills us full of well being because we trust the One who created us. I pray for these gifts for all of my friends and loved ones.
I hope you’ll take a few minutes this season and read the story of the first Christmas in Luke Chapter 1 vs 1-20. And I hope you’ll take just a few minutes to watch the video at the link that I have posted. My prayers are that you will have a Christmas and a New Year that are filled with the blessings that come from God when we focus on His Son, Jesus Christ – The Alpha and Omega, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Messiah, King of Kings, The Way, The Truth and the Light.
For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. – Isaiah 9:6
http://www.crosscards.com/cards/holidays/christmas/christmas-gospel.html
Merry Christmas!
Barbara Ellin Fox
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