Merry Wrong Christmas

How can we get it so wrong?

During the Christmas season, people get swept away by worldly swill. They go into debt.  They allow shortages, Covid and rushing crowds to steal their joy.  Children are as naughty on December 26th as they were before the “Naughty or Nice” flag was thrown by desperate parents.  Let’s all stop.  By New Years Day, few people even remember most of the gifts they received.

Looking at social media sites, we see beautifully decorated trees and often, a huge pile of brightly colored packages.   With children in a home, it is almost understandable when people fall into the “charge card,” gift card,” “gotta have it” toy game.  Later in life, we tend to celebrate a gentler Christmas.

Most older people focus on the true meaning of Christmas.  We don’t want or need much.  We sit on the sidelines and watch the chaos and we wish we could warn our children and grandchildren they are bringing the wrong “Presence” to the tree.

Time spins by too swiftly.  Jesus is no longer a Babe in a Manger but He is still the reason we celebrate Christmas.  We know it isn’t about lights and toys and family feasts.  It is a good time to spend quality hours with family, to enjoy the aromas, the cookies and treats, and the softening of strangers when we are out in the world.  But it isn’t about Santa Claus! It isn’t about excessive non-stop commercials tutoring children what items they should demand.

We don’t deserve a bunch of presents.  This has never been something we’ve earned.  I do know the Presence of our Lord is the most glorious “present” we can obtain.  An unruly child throwing a tantrum on Christmas morning because he or she didn’t get everything on their exhaustive list should assuredly be on the Naughty List for a while.

Here are a few ways to celebrate a more peaceful and Holy Christmas:

1. Don’t go into debt for gifts.

2. Let your family talk about the reason we’re celebrating.  Say a family prayer before the ripping and tearing begins.

3. Do not be guilted into buying more than you can afford.

4. Turn off the tv.  Help children listen to Christmas music.

5. Read the Bible before bedtime on Christmas Eve. Especially the story of Jesus’ birth in Luke.

6: Make your kids say thank you, even to the point of writing thank you notes.

7. Try to avoid the crowds, the arguments or fusses in checkout lanes.

8. Teach your kids to say Merry Christmas and not Happy Holidays!

9. Never use the spelling Xmas.   Jesus is more than an X.

10. Please think of people who might be alone, unable to purchase all the extras,or who simply reject our current commercialism!

11. Smile and greet people if you have to go out.

12 Bless strangers.  Yours might be the only thing they receive this Christmas.

13. Pray!  Pray with your family.  Pray alone.  Just make sure you don’t follow our greedy culture into a dangerously marred version of the Day.

14. Stay centered.  Stay in love with Jesus.  Stay focused on the reason we celebrate Christmas.

15.  Don’t judge.  We’ve all fallen short.  Thank God because He forgives

16. Merry Christmas. Bring the Presence of Jesus into every moment and tradition of this Day.