Christmas over Christmas

As much as I know most of you hate to admit it, fall is almost over and winter is almost here. Everyone is bracing for the first wave of snow, cold, road salt, and gray skies. But as much as the weather might be a pain, we all have something to look forward to: Christmas!

Everyone gets excited for Christmas, especially local stores. The very second that Thanksgiving is over, Christmas things hit the shelves and envelop the stores for another month. All sorts of Christmas things: food, candy canes, Santa hats, Rudolph ornaments, and Christmas trees. But in the middle of all the decor and holiday blink, everyone seems to forget a very simple fact. Christmas is not about Christmas!

What? Now that sounds strange, doesn't it? But it's true. Christmas has overshadowed the real holiday we should be celebrating.

The birth of Jesus Christ is way more important than how many deals you can snag on Black Friday, way more important than that extra big tree you bought, way more important than even Santa Claus. The truth is right here; we get so wrapped up in what we think Christmas is about, we forget the real deal, the real reason to celebrate: the birth of God is human form, the holy son of God who came to save us.

How about this holiday season we make an effort to celebrate the real holiday? Behind the tinsel, wrapping paper, and Christmas turkey, there is one little manger that means more than all the holiday trappings combined.