Santa Claus is coming...isn't he???

I'll go ahead and say it, Christmas is my favorite time of year. Sure, Thanksgiving is nice, Easter is a celebration; but Christmas is my favorite. Of course, it doesn't hurt that you get an unprecedented two-for-one deal with Christmas and New Years. Things that come in two's are always better! A double tall late from Starbucks, a double screwdriver at 9AM on a cruise to Jamaica, a double cheeseburger from insert favorite fast food restaurant here, a BOGO sale at insert favorite store here...

I think, though, that many people have lost the real meaning of Christmas altogether. Yes, it's about family, Christmas trees, Christmas lights, giving and receiving presents, eating, even going to church. I remember, when I was a kid, almost every house on our street would have lights and a Christmas tree. Now, having lights is the exception instead of the rule. These days of little money, little time, little patience and the like make it easy to lose focus on what's important. It's about serving others, loving others, putting others before yourself...but why???

The real meaning of Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ. Most people know this, they go to church on or around Christmas and may even hear the REAL Christmas story here or there. It's important to make sure you don't keep the real meaning of Christmas a secret. Somewhere along the way someone kept it a secret. Many people don't even celebrate Christmas any more. Jesus is the greatest gift that could ever be given. If I could come up with one passage in the Bible that summed up Jesus' life and what He, and Christmas, is all about it would be this:

Mark 10:43-45
43"whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."


As was tradition in my house growing up, we will read Luke chapter 2 (The real Christmas story) as a family on Christmas eve and let the kids open one present before Christmas morning. I remember years when my dad would sit us down to read Luke 2, I would be so anxious to open that present that I would feel put out by having to sit and listen to the story. Looking back, I'm grateful that he built values such as this into me so I can do the same with my children. It is my hope that because my wife and I will read this story with them every year that they will never forget the real meaning of Christmas...or keep it a secret.