Christmas cheer...are we doing it right?

If ever there was a time to feel jolly, it would be now. December is in it’s first few days and the festive season is in full swing. The ornaments and decorations that people have been making all year finally hit the shelves and go flying off just as fast as they can be price-tagged. “Christmas Specials” in red, white and green letters adorns every shop window in sight and the masses flock to their attention.


Sundays used to be the day for church, family brunch or lunch and a relaxing afternoon walk with the dogs. For tea and cake and a snooze in the shade of a big oak tree. Shops weren’t open on this day, because it was holy. Then the demigod of consumerism began to grow and the time in the week was simply not enough to possibly find a gap for church and family in between the shopping and malling. The retail clerk and his menagerie of things to buy became more popular than the creator of all things…ALL things. Should we not be going to church to thank God for that sales clerk and rather visit the store during the week? Should we not be spending that Sunday with those we love, to secretly find out what it is that they really want for Christmas?

I will must say that the spirit of Christmas has not hit me yet. I think it has been smothered by all the wrapping paper that society is so obsessed with at this time of the year. I should actually mention, and it is quite obvious, that it is not really the paper that most people are worried about, but the size and worth of the package contents. “I hope this is more expensive than the gift I got her last year…”, “If I get socks again…”, “This better be what I asked for…”


Please, we need to remember that the score was settled around 2000 years ago, we have no need to keep it. We need to choose what type of Christmas we are going to have this year…are we going to worry about the little gifts we are going to get, or are we going to give thanks for the one big gif that we have already got? Yes, the gift of our Lord Jesus.

At the end of the day, this is why we celebrate…