Let's not lose sight of what Christmas really means.

In the society that we live in today, it's so much harder to teach our kids about what Christmas really means. Stores try and push Christmas on us sooner every year. They start the hype earlier, to make us feel the pressure quicker, to get us to spend more money for a longer period of time. Can we please make it through Thanksgiving first before the onslaught of retail madness??? As it is, even that holiday is losing some of it's value. Stores are starting to open up on Thanksgiving night to try and get the edge on their competitors. All because they're trying to get "first dibs" on our money. And we, as consumers, play into that madness - camping out all night to be one of the first in line, just so that we can save a few bucks. When in reality, if you're a smart shopper you can get deals just as good (if not better) throughout the year. Let's face it. The economy being in the state that it's in, retailers are doing whatever they can to keep people coming through their doors.

What bothers me the most, though, in fact it breaks my heart, is that through all of this - through all of the antics that are employed to get us sucked into this craziness, the same retailers that are trying to get us to spend our money with them, are the very same retailers that are trying to take away what we celebrate, and the reason that we go out and buys gifts!! All under the guise of "not offending anyone". Come on!! Not offending anyone???? What about the millions of us that celebrate Christmas? Yes, that's right!! Not "the holidays", but good old fashioned, traditional, let's call it what it is, CHRISTMAS!!! And another thing. I don't know about you, but in our house we put up a Christmas tree. Not a holiday tree, but a CHRISTMAS tree. It's our symbol, as Christians, of a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Just like the Jewish faith doesn't use a candelabra during Hanukkah. They use a MENORAH. It's THEIR symbol of celebration!

In closing, I'd just like to say this: Christmas to me means celebrating the birth of Jesus. The Son of God who was sent to this earth to die a cruel death on the cross to pay the price of my sins. It means time with loved ones and friends. Time to celebrate each other and give gifts as a gesture of "you matter to me". It doesn't matter how big or small the gift, but rather that the gift was chosen specifically for that person, knowing that it would bring them joy. It means the smell of a fresh Christmas tree in our family room, bringing back memories of Christmases past. It means traditions - old and new ones that are created as the years go by. It means the joy I'll feel at seeing Joshua and Anna's face on Christmas morning when they get to see their presents under the tree and open them for the first time. It means the smell of homecooked/homebaked goodies in the house. Most importantly - IT MEANS LOVE and the celebration of it!