Give Thanks

As many people have pointed out, it is easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season and forget what the Christmas is really about. This holiday season make sure you take the time to be thankful for everything you have. Even the poorest of this nation truly are wealthy. We have freedom to worship who, what and where we may. We have shelter over our head, food on the table, and a warm bed. We have clothing on our back and education available to our children. We have refrigeration that makes it possible to preserve meat without bathing it in salt. We have ICE CREAM!

We have endless amenities and luxuries that we use on a daily bases and take for granted because they have always been there. They may not always be. Christmas isn't about a tree, it's not about presents, and it isn't about Santa Clause. Christmas is a day chosen to celebrate the birth of Christ our Savior. It's hard to imagine a baby born in a stable as you sleep in your bed. It's hard to imagine the true sacrifice of God's only begotten son when your children sleep safely in the next room. It's hard to think of the gifts given to a King of Kings when ours come from a mythical saint. It's hard to think of Christ as the centerpiece for our homes when a tree takes His place.

Money is not the root of all evil. The love of money and of physical things is the root of all evil. I purpose it to be very dangerous to celebrate a holiday with Christ's name in it by buying all sort of physical things. Maybe this year instead of Santa bringing gifts, we should make them ourselves and just exchange them to celebrate the birth of Christ. Maybe instead of placing them under a Fir tree we should find a stable or vagabond shelter of our day to leave them. Maybe we should give thanks to God for all that we have instead of trying to obtain more. Maybe we should read the story of Christ birth from the scriptures.

What ever you do this Christmas season, and however you do it, make sure that Christ is a part of it. Give God thanks for all that you have, every seemingly meaningless thing, because it may not always be there. True wealth is not cannot be found in monetary greatness alone, but in life, family and friends. Give thanks for that wealth and your monetary wealth no matter how great and small. Merry Christmas to all.