Fleetmack.com - A Christmas Wish for You?

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"I feel bad for Arab-Americans who truly want to get into crop dusting." --Brian Regan

Christmas is a time for love and thanksgiving.
12-20-02

For the second time in a row, thoughts are sparse and I don't have any idea what will become of this article. It is the Christmas season and wether you're religious or not it's very hard to not get caught up in all the festivities. I was thinking last night - what are atheists doing when they celebrate Christmas? What are those who have no religious beliefs doing when they celebrate Christmas? Christ-mas. Ever notice the simple fact that the day is named after Christ? Apparently I'm growing up, I realized this year that the most important parts of Christmas are celebrating Jesus, seeing my family, and my favorite - getting Christmas cards in the mail! I honestly don't care if I get one present this year. What do I really need? I really need Jesus, I need my friends and family, and I need Mom's home cookin'!

The superficiality of the holiday season is so abundant and seemingly nobody has the right idea of what the season is about any more. We are celebrating the love God has for us. On this day, He gave us the birth of his only Son who came to save us and give us what we have today. Had this day never occurred, we'd all be living sinful and unforgiven lives. It's strange, the thing I look forward to the most this year is going to Christmas Mass. That usually is the thing I used to think "just got in the way of Christmas." How stupid was I for thinking that?? Man I was a selfish and self-centered person.

Christmas is about sharing, loving, and giving thanks. These are the things Jesus preached. In the book I'm reading right now, there is a major focus on saying how relationships and loving one another is the foundation of life. We were put here to love one another. We share with one another, and we give thanks to God that we were given the opportunity to do this! It's definately important to exchange gifts on Christmas, these gestures of love and sharing are fulfilling what God wants us to do and how we should treat each other. Do you realize that (and I realize this is strongly out of place in the context of this article) all of the 10 commandments are based on relationships? The book I'm reading informed me that 4 of them are about your relationship with God and 6 are about your relationships with other people. I had never thought of that before, something to ponder.

I'm really discouraged right now because I can't think of anything to write about, so let me just say this. If you're not a religious person - just give this a try this Christmas. Go to a service on Christmas or Christmas Eve, listen to what is being said and thank God for giving us Jesus while you're listening, and let the Holy Spirit enter your heart. I don't want to give you a gift this year, I want God to give you a gift - the Holy Spirit. Do you realize if you ask for the Holy Spirit to come to you that it will? Well that's what I want you to do - ask God for it. It'll come. Merry Christmas

Note: Everything after this point was written in December 2005, not the original published date of 12-20-02

People say "Happy Holidays" ... or "This Holiday Season". What holidays are you talking about if you're not a Christian? New Year's? Martin Luther King Jr. day? It's ridiculous that people dress as Santa (Saint Nicholas) and that people won't listen to songs that reference Christianity in the lyrics. Remember people, it's only a holiday because of Christ. That's the reason for the season. Yes, cliche - yes, true. If you are celebrating Christmas, be aware of what you are really doing. It upsets me that people TRY .. they TRY ... to separate God from the "holidays". Again, what holiday are you celebrating if you don't realize what it is? I don't think I can explain how confusing your choice to celebrate Christmas is if you don't realize that "Christ" is in it. Whatever, have a WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS!!! :)