More Thoughts
People easily get their knickers in a knot over some of the strangest things.
Many times if you have two people you also have two opinions.
When I first became a Christian there were the two factions of whether it was okay to celebrate Christmas or not to celebrate.
We took the middle ground in that we used this time of the year to celebrate the goodness of God, His gift(s), to say thank you to friends, family, and ask God's blessings. Not, we told people, as a religious holiday per se.
But then non-believers began to make things ugly. They saw 'Christmas' as one of Christians high holy days and as such decided to attack and get rid of it.
Well, now that makes it personal. We may not know for certain What day Jesus was born, but we know he was born.
We know that the angels sang and celebrated, and the shepherds were told, and they celebrated. So, there you have heaven and earth joining in the song with the angels.
What better time to begin teaching the next generation about the love of God? And our need to love God back?
I don't have a personal vendetta against 'Santa Claus', but I do think we do an injustice when we perpetuate the idea that children get their gifts from Santa.
Santa was a priest who liked to give gifts to poor children...showing the love of his God to others. Which is another knot in the knickers of bone pickers.
So, let Santa Claus alone, tell about the love of God and the gift of His Son and salvation. And Merry Christmas and looking forward to a Happy New Year.
"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:7-14 KJV)
