Christmas Celebration

My dad was not fond of Christmas. He was a bit more “reformed” in his thinking than a lot of Baptist preachers, and thought we ought to celebrate the birth of the Savior 52 Sundays a year. Consequently, when I was a boy, we didn’t decorate much, if at all, for Christmas. Some years we would have a very small tree, sometimes not. I remember getting gifts, but the extravagance many of us now know was non-existent.

My wife says I am moving in that direction (and have been for many years). I assume she is right (isn’t she always?). I think we are too inward focused during these days. I know the Church I attend is lavish in helping those less fortunate, and my family is part of that help. I cannot help but wonder, though, if Dad was better on track, Biblically speaking.

We who write, or speak, or teach for the family of God are not going to change by our thoughts and words much about how people celebrate Christmas. But we can place a greater emphasis on celebrating His birth, His sacrifical death, and His resurrection from the dead every week of the year. That would change our lives much more than spending less on ourselves during December.

I think I’ll speak to the preacher at my Church about how to do that!