Merry Christmas!

In recent years, I’ve noticed that stores and malls are putting up their “holiday” displays a little earlier than in the past. But it doesn’t compare to the big push I’ve witnessed this year. Even before Halloween, I saw tree decorations and Christmas gift wrap already on the shelves. In one store, alongside some Halloween displays, there were already lawn figures of Santa and Rudolph on the floor. (Although, a nativity display couldn’t be found anywhere - not even as much as a shiny, treetop star.)

While the weak economy keeps shoppers on a tighter budget, and with big fuel bills on the horizon, the idea of retailers is to entice consumers to buy things earlier and earlier in the season - when, hopefully, they have more disposable cash to spend. Even the children are bombarded with the newest and most expensive toys advertised on TV.

Soon enough, people get caught up in finding all the biggest sales, the best deals and “the perfect gift;” charging up their credit cards and trying to out-decorate their neighbors’ homes with the biggest displays and brightest lights.

How quickly, it seems, that the masses get pulled into the flow of the rampant consumerism and artificial commercialism of the Christmas season. It’s what some people refer to as “the dark side of Christmas.” I suppose, then, “Black Friday” is a fitting title for the day after Thanksgiving - the first “official” big sale shopping day of the season. Indeed, it’s a sad, dark day when people are trampled to death by crazed shoppers in their mad rush for the first hot item on the shelf, to save a few bucks.

It has become glaringly obvious that our society has forsaken the meaning of Christmas and the spirit in which it is to be observed. Rather than a holy day, sacred observance and celebration, Christmas has become a retail holiday filled with spending frenzies. People who don’t even believe in God nor acknowledge the birth of the Savior are scrambling to snatch up holiday deals, expecting to get what they want for…wait for it…CHRISTmas!

There would be no CHRISTmas without CHRIST. And although He should be honored in our lives every day, Christmas is a special time to honor and celebrate His arrival as the most precious gift to the world.

It’s His birthday, but that message is lost in all the holiday shuffle.

I love what Christmas is really all about, not the secularized, materialistic holiday that society and culture has morphed it into. I love Christmas too much to ruin it. And, I want my 11-year-old son to feel the joy and magic of the season as I did growing up. I want him to know charity, compassion and unselfishness - the true spirit of Christmas.

So, instead of hitting the stores so much, Jordan and I have decided to volunteer more of our time and resources, donate to local charities, adopt families and give toys, food and clothes.

Christmas is so much more than just a holiday. In the spirit of love and sacrifice, it’s a lifestyle all year ‘round.

Pull back from the hype. Seek some calm and balance. Stop the insanity, and have yourself a very merry Christmas…every day.