It’s almost Christmas!  December through February is arguably my favorite time of year.  The air is crisp and people seem a tad friendlier (unless you’re shopping) and you get to see family and friends.

Thinking about the holidays had me thinking about today’s modern view of Christmas, and how it’s celebrated.  Christmas is supposed to honor the day of the birth of Christ, to celebrate the incarnation.  But we know for most Christ’s birth is not more than a footnote, if that.  Christmas has become the birthday party Christians prepare for in excitement, only to be completely contented in the guest of honor failing to show up.  How many of us would throw a celebration in honor of someone, and yet be completely happy and have a good time when the celebration takes place absent of the one it was prepared for?  That’d be crazy!  Yet Christmas has become that to many…
Fun has taken place of the Son!  When I have a family of my own, I hope to deeply encourage the true spirit of Christmas with traditions that bring the focus back around to who it should be!  Maybe a birthday cake each year that the kid’s can see who the day is for, and a traditional family reading of the Christmas story.

I marvel also at how Satan has manufactured so many things to completely distract society from any recognition of Christmas as a day to honor our King.  He has Santa Claus’ and the Easter Bunny ready to progressively alter the focus more and more each year.  His best weapons are those that seem to “bland out” everything that should have more importance.