CHRISTmas

As the snow has been falling, CHRISTmas decorations are up and people are getting there trees up.....I feel the meaning of CHRISTmas has been completely overlooked. Instead we celebrate this holiday with one thing on our minds " How will we fit everyone's gift into our budget and make them smile with what we pick for them?" I feel we worry so much about the "appearance of CHRISTmas" and we have forgotten why this day is so very special! An amazing gift was given to us on this day....The gift of Jesus. His birth was the beginning of our reconnection with our creator..Our God. This gift is what we should be celebrating...We should be having a birthday party....we celebrate our children's birthdays, our parents and grandparents, our husbands and wives.....WHY NOT JESUS?? Instead we gather around the CHRISTmas tree excited about presents ...(they are simply "things" that we cannot take with us). We have forgotten....the story of Jesus.
We now have the signs that say "happy holidays" where is the "Merry CHRISTmas" or "Happy Birthday Jesus"??  I LOVE to give....but when it gets to the point that what you give is just not good enough or that "it is special because it was chosen especially from one person and given to someone because they thought of them" has been forgotten....I believe it is time to renew our minds and go back to the basics!
Someone told me recently that they were thinking of making a birthday cake for Jesus on his birthday and having family over to celebrate....I immediately felt joy and thought... that is just awesome.
I recently started a devotion that is fully focused on getting to know Jesus...I waited until December to start it, thinking how appropriate to learn about him around the time of his birth. I am amazed at each day's devotion and yearn for more knowledge of him. I feel that my time with him is precious each day.
This CHRISTmas.....I am going to LOVE more, Give a helping hand to those in need, and give with all of my heart not my wallet. I honestly feel my calling is to help orphans in need....So, I plan soon on reaching out to an orphanage near home, until I feel fully comfortable and have my family's blessing to go on a mission trip.
On CHRISTmas day when my children open their gifts by the tree...I will enjoy their beautiful smiling faces...and I will enjoy my husband and boys on this day...BUT most of all I will be celebrating and remembering that this is Jesus' day and I will praise him on his very special day!!