The reason for the season

All the Christmas rush, the party preparations, the Christmas shopping and the terrible Christmas traffic could really drive even the best of us to insanity. Just read the following story.

A woman was out Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything else imaginable, and after hours of hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the elevator with her two kids.

She was feeling what so many of us feel during the Christmas holiday season – overwhelming pressure to go to every party and every housewarming, to get the perfect gift for every person on the shopping list, and to make sure no one on the card list and those who sent us a card is forgotten.

When the elevator doors opened, there was already a crowd in the car. Exasperated, she pushed her way into the car, and dragged her two kids in with her and all the bags of stuff. When the doors closed, she couldn’t take it anymore and stated, “Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up and shot.”

From the back of the car, everyone heard a quiet, calm voice respond, “Don’t worry. We already crucified him.” For the rest of the trip down, the elevator was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.

The One who started this “whole Christmas thing” should constantly be in our every deed, word, thought, and even purchase.

Don’t allow commercialism to replace the significance of the season. The following appeared in a church newsletter and contains some good advice that will help us keep selfishness in check this Christmas:

1. Thou shalt not leave “Christ” out of Christmas, making it “Xmas.” To some, “X” is unknown.

2. Thou shalt prepare thy soul for Christmas. Spend not so much on gifts that thy soul is forgotten.

3. Thou shalt not let Santa Claus replace Christ, thus robbing the day of its spiritual reality.

4. Thou shalt not burden the shop girl, the mailman and the merchant with complaints and demands.

5. Thou shalt give thyself with thy gift. This will increase its value a hundred fold, and he who receiveth it shall treasure it forever.

6. Thou shalt not value gifts received by their cost. Even the least expensive may signify love, and that is more priceless than silver and gold.

7. Thou shalt not neglect the needy. Share thy blessings with many who will go hungry and cold unless thou are generous.

8. Thou shalt not neglect thy church. Its services highlight the true meaning of the season.

9. Thou shalt be as a little child. Not until thou has become in spirit as a little one art thou ready to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

10. Thou shalt give thy heart to Christ. Let Him be at the top of thy Christmas list.

Anyone keeping these commandments is sure to have a blessed Christmas.

And so let me greet you a Blessed Christmas and not “Happy Holidays”. I hope you and your family really enjoy the significance of the season.

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