In the week since I wrote my last post about Christmas, I have noticed that it is not just our family that is fed up with Christmas being virtually abolished in public places. A couple of years ago the Christmas abolitionists were on the rampage, re-naming Christmas trees “holiday trees” and employees at many well known American stores were forbidden from mentioning the word “Christmas”. This year it seems that Christmas is making a comeback, at least in some parts of the American life that I experience. I heard carols in the local grocery store and at San Diego airport. Alice’s “holiday concert” featured some Christmas music, including carols, and, am I imagining it or am I hearing more people say “Merry Christmas”?

Perhaps the changes are partly driven by the spluttering economy. Most Americans actually celebrate Christmas and it makes good marketing sense to target this huge national festival with its proper name to encourage more present buying. Whether the tiny minority of atheists like it or not, the vast majority of their compatriots still consider Christmas Day special and celebrate it.

While I was cooking some food for a Christmas Eve party, I was half watching the movie “The Grinch who Stole Christmas.”  Alice and Martyn were really watching the DVD but I was doing the usual multi-task viewing.

After the Grinch stole the people’s presents he was expecting them to moan and wail but instead the little girl took them to a higher level and they sang happily, celebrating Christmas despite the absence of presents. When the Grinch saw that their Christmas was not reliant on what could be bought in the store, his heart trebled in size and he became a transformed creature!

My youngest still strongly connects Christmas with acquiring the must-haves of teenage living. Materialism is a negative aspect of Christmas and I can see how the Christmas cheer in Whoville after the disappearance of the gifts was a wonderful tribute to their focus on more important aspects of Christmas.

Finally the ‘Whos’ ended their rivalry over which family had the best Christmas lights. Community unity in the face of a common enemy is precious. We will not encounter the threats of the Grinch this Christmas unless we choose to be entertained by him.  However we should remember that we need our family and friends and we will be happiest when we strive to keep the peace and enjoy and encourage one another. The quality of the food or the presents should not be the dominating features of Christmas.

To focus on what is important, we need to put the Christ (Jesus) back in Christmas. Only He can help us choose the right priorities and enable us to love our families even when they are materialistic, and unhelpful. As Christmas is the celebration of His birth it would make sense for us to make some time for Jesus. The beginning of the books of Luke and Matthew tell us more of Jesus’ birth. Reading these verses on Christmas will help us keep the right focus.

Merry Christmas!

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