Celebrating Christ’s Birthday
Many of you know that Southerners have their own particular “language.” One funny expression we use in the South is when we say that someone will polite themselves right out of existence. Sometimes Southerners have a tendency to bend over too far backwards just to try to keep folks happy and not offend anybody.
I don’t know about you but I’m tired of hearing people reduce the meaning of Christmas when they refer to this time of the year as the holiday season. Personally, we are going to polite ourselves right out of Christian existence if we don’t recognize that it is not the holiday season. Instead, we should be celebrating this most wonderful time of the year in which we remember the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I refuse to make anymore apologies for taking a stand and insisting that we say Merry Christmas and not Happy Holidays.
This year, I am taking a holiday from trying to be politically correct and I plan on greeting everybody with, “Bless you this Christmas season.” I hope you share the same message with everyone you meet. And remember, it isn’t illegal, yet, in America to boldly proclaim Merry Christmas!
As Christmas rapidly approaches, my prayer for you this year is that you rediscover the wonder and awe of the birth of our Savior. Re-familiarize yourself with the account of His miraculous entry into this world by reading Luke 2:8-14:
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’”
Instead of becoming caught up in the commercialization of Christmas, why don’t you try something different this year. Perhaps take the family for a drive through the nearby neighborhoods and gaze at the spectacular Christmas lights. Start a new tradition and choose and cut your own Christmas tree then spend the evening with family sipping hot cocoa and decorating the tree. Another suggestion would be to gather with members of your church and find a local nursing home and then blessing the residents with Christmas carols. Whatever you choose to do this Christmas season, don’t forget whose birthday it is that we are celebrating.
