Put Christ back in Christmas
By Dara Fillmore

When the word Christmas comes up we often picture family gatherings, buying presents, eating food and setting up a tree. A person can go crazy buying, wrapping, and preparing things for that day in December.

How often do we forget what we should truly celebrate? Doesn't the answer to what Christmas is about appear in the very word? Why is it now a holiday craze? A madhouse for buying the best, most expensive gifts to proudly hand out? A foolish stuffing of stomachs and saturation of sugar? A filling of malls and stores to return what was given in love or obligation? Christmas is not about any of this, is it? Nor is it about winter vacation or being charitable?

Isn't Christmas about rejoicing for the most important gift that has ever been given to us? Isn't it a time to feast on the forgiveness we can enjoy as those for whom Jesus Christ came to earth to die? Why do we give gifts? To show others our appreciation, love, thankfulness?
Maybe we ought to consider giving gifts this Christmas that will last, that might remind the person receiving them of Jesus' love.

And yet, what is lacking in our celebrations? Why do we feel there are so many things we must do to live through a single holiday? When we forget what to rejoice in and add endless tension and costly traditions, we just might go beyond the real reason for this holiday, making it a season through which we must try to survive.
If we decide that there is truly just one thing to celebrate, we can rid ourselves of all the holiday baggage that has been packed into Christmas. And why not? Is Jesus looking in pleasure at our frantic fuming, stressed speech or sibling rivalry over presents? Does He enjoy how we as stewards are spending His money? Does He watch with content all our Christmas traditions?

We each must carefully consider how we will celebrate this Christmas. Is our goal to thank our Creator for sending His Son to earth one day to make a way to Heaven for eternity? Or do we add traditions to that simple truth?

Decide what the reason is for this season. You will not answer to any human about how you celebrate Christmas. You will answer in the end to the Christ of Christmas.

"For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6