It's a crazy time of year. We get swept up in the excitement of Christmas shopping and having friends and family home from college. Picking the right outfit for a Christmas party, and decorating the house are important and very time-consuming tasks. We get so wrapped up in the idea of Santa Claus and the present side of the holiday season that we often overlook what Christmas is really all about.
The story goes like this: an angel appeared to a woman and told her she was to have a son, and he would grow to be the savior of nations. As it was prophesized, the woman went on to have a baby, and that baby was Jesus. Now, this is a very simplified version of the story, but the important details are there.
Each year, on December 25th, we remember and honor the birth of our savior, at least that's what we are supposed to do. As the years have gone by, and I've grown older, I've begun to see that for some, Christmas is no longer about Christ, but simply about finding the right gift. Less and less Christmas cards say 'Merry Christmas', and more and more we hear 'Happy Holidays' instead. Maybe this isn't really a new thing, and I've just grown to see it more, but what about that baby boy? What about the mother who gave birth to the savior in a stable? What about the true meaning of Christmas?
Without Christ, Christmas is simply 'mas;' three letters that mean nothing on their own. Take the time this year to remember the true meaning of Christmas, and help to share it with the world. Don't let this remarkable day become nothing more than a day to give and receive gifts. This year, keep Christ in Christmas.