It’s OK to Say Merry Christmas

One of the best things about Thanksgiving, Christmas and family get-togethers are the pictures.  But often I find myself cooking, serving, cleaning up, etc. that I don’t have time for a spontaneous photo shoot and there goes another missed opportunity.   At Thanksgiving this year, I handed the grandkids my camera and off they went taking pictures: of each other, themselves and even inanimate objects around the house.  Since it’s a digital camera, I know I can just delete the ones that didn’t turn out well, but there are always those priceless pictures that you know you are going to show again … during their wedding rehearsal dinner.   My granddaughter, Taylor, loves taking pictures.  So, we’ve been shopping around for inexpensive digital camera for her upcoming birthday.

While shopping, it’s interesting to observe so many people frantically searching that perfect Christmas gift.  I used to be that person, trying to find the right gift.   When you think about it, Christmas is a day we should be celebrating Jesus’ birthday.  The birthday person gets the gifts.  So why are we giving so many gifts to each other (and ourselves when we find a good deal)?  Jesus wants us to give Him the gift of ourselves.   How we give is different for each person, but He wants us to give of our time, talent, and resources towards touching others in a way that ultimately points them to Jesus.  Whether it’s getting involved in Operation Christmas Child, helping out in a soup kitchen, participating in the Angel Tree gift program, saying something encouraging to someone whose heart is breaking, giving something away to such as clothes, sweaters, jackets and shoes to the needy, reaching out to someone who is lonely, and the list goes on.  God will nudge you in the direction you should move, but you have to be willing to move, when He says “go”.  There is a big difference between thinking about doing good things and actually doing them.

As a Christian if you are angry about something evil going on in the world, then it’s probably because God is mad about it too.   If you feel compelled to do something about this tragedy, then I suggest you take action.  If something is breaking your heart, then take action, do something.  While the world is indifferent to rising evil in the world, we Christians need to stand our ground on biblical principle and stand strong.  Get involved, pour it on, fight the good fight, let me people know truth.

The other day I wore a badge while shopping at the mall, it reads “It’s OK to say Merry Christmas”.    Some ignored it and said “Happy Holiday”, but some did see it and said “Merry Christmas”.   When people say “Happy Holiday”, I feel like saying, “what holiday would that be?”  I’ve started to get involved in www.afa.net and their “Naughty and Nice” list where they actually list retailers who refuse to acknowledge Christmas (naughty) on their website, print ads, commercials, etc.  You can write these retailers and tell them what you think and I suggest you do.  Millions of people throughout the world in hundreds of countries celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day.  So what’s with retailers trying to avoid saying the word “Christmas”?   Get your badge (or make one) and as you shop, be sure to say “Merry Christmas”.

 

 

Micah

Taylor

Rachel and Hannah

Caleb