Friday, December 9, 2011

The reason for the season

As we approach December 25Th the world is inundating us with the generic and nonreligious messages of Season's Greetings or Happy Holidays. It started long ago as a way of getting around the fact that this is the time when Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus. Christmas has been commercialized to the point that there is virtually no where you can go and not see Lights or bows usually attached to signs saying buy your gift card here or sale on now or the like.

Santa is the central figure in all of this attempt to sell people what they don't need. My family is all adult now. If any of us needed something we have the means to buy it(within reason) and personally I have more trinkets around my place than I can stand to look at and don't want anymore. That being said if someone got me a gift I would accept it with gladness of heart. Especially if it was a book from one of my favourite authors or a CD I don't have(yes in this digital music age I still like hard copy CD's). With regards to my family I don't plan on buying gifts but likewise if I saw something that I know my bro doesn't have and would like I will get it for him. My plan is to give donations to 2 worthy causes. One to Gateway of Hope in Langley and another to World Vision who do many good works with Children in Africa. The poor need my gift far more than my family does.

As for people with children I totally understand the need to get them gifts but do we have to be as lavish as a society? Honestly looking back I was spoiled and when I see what many kids get today it shocks me. Parents put themselves into major debt over the holidays and the kids usually get as much joy out of the stocking stuffers as the major gifts anyway. I know, I know easy for me to say since I don't have kids but it is the truth. Spoiling your child is not going to teach them anything.

There is much debate within Christ following circles as to when Jesus was actually born. I too, am not sure about the timing of Christmas but it doesn't matter. The fact is he was born and we are celebrating a royal birthday. It is not uncommon for a Queen or King to have an official birthday celebration that is not on their real birthday. So for the King of Kings I look at December 25TH as his royal birthday. I also have been guilty of getting too caught up in Good Friday/Easter as being bigger than Christmas for me. I mean the reason Jesus came to Earth was to take our sin away so Easter has significance too however without God coming to Earth as an infant and facing all the challenges he faced including being born in a manger the Cross would not have as much significance in my opinion.

So this Christmas, enjoy time with your family and friends. Partake in some feasting and appreciate all the good things in your life. Just don't forget the significance of the event. It is a royal birthday so celebrate it!!

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