Celebrating Christmas 

   “Tis the season” as they say.  The season to celebrate Christmas.  But how are we celebrating?  Sadly, society seems more concerned with celebrating worldly goods and treasures than with the birth of our Lord and Savior.

   I took a walk around my neighborhood last night just as it was beginning to get dark.  As I walked I noticed the many houses that had begun, or had already finished, decorating for Christmas.  I saw Santa Clause, reindeers, snowmen, and snowwomen.  There were lots of lights, some of which were quite beautiful.  There is even one house that displays an inflatable outdoor toilet with a door that opens so that Santa can lean out to wave (seriously).

   What I didn’t see was anything to indicate that, in just a few days, we are to celebrate the coming of our Savior.  There have always been the secular decorations and I have no problem with celebrating the fun of Christmas, especially for children.  But how are our children to learn of the birth of Christ, the true meaning of Christmas, from a Santa in an outdoor toilet?

   I think it’s telling that so many of the secular decorations are inflatable.  They may look nice when inflated but are flat and ugly when laying deflated on the ground.  Such is the Christmas celebration of today.  It may have the appearance of celebration, but it lacks the true beauty of the season.

   Christmas should be fun, but we should never forget that the reason we celebrate it really has nothing to do with earthly goods and pleasures.  It is to remember and honor a newborn baby in the manger and to give Him our love as He gives His to us. 

We prepare for Christmas Lord.

The day of Your coming to save us.

Let us look beyond earthly celebrations.

May we celebrate the truth of Your love and mercy. 

Amen