Tis The Season

Today is the official day when Christmas shopping begins. It always officially starts the day after Thanksgiving. Numerous people will leave their homes and start their shopping at around 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning so they can make it in time to purchase the first-time Christmas bargains. Christmas shopping has become nothing but a rat race in this day. People will scramble to make it in time at the local retail stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart, Kohl's, and the list continues. People will hurriedly race to become the first in line to purchase those items that are on sale. You will view a display of rude behavior taking place while people are shopping. I've heard news stories where people will shove or even grab an item out of someone's hand while shopping. It's horrible! We've totally lost sight what the meaning of Christmas is all about. We have from now until Christmas Eve to shop and some people will act like a huge fool on the first day of Christmas shopping. We're all concerned about what we're going to receive for Christmas.

I look forward to this time of year. There's something very special about Christmas. I love all the Christmas decorations, the tree, the reindeer, and display of lights inside and outside of homes. I've seen some homes that are beautifully adorned with Christmas lights. I know Christmas is also a very sad time of year for many people who have lost loved ones. Many people will reminisce on some of the memories they've had with loved ones that have departed from this life. There are some families that are struggling financially. There are those that have lost jobs and are facing foreclosure on their homes. Some parents feel very guilty because they've not able to purchase Christmas gifts for their children. However, I'm thankful that the true meaning of Christmas isn't about giving and receiving gifts. I'm thankful for that but we shouldn't allow our Christmas to be wrapped around giving and receiving gifts. Christmas is about Jesus. It's about the Savior was born on this earth 2000 years ago in a lonely manger. It's about a Savior who came on earth to die for the sins for fallen man. That's what Christmas is all about. When we lose sight of what Christmas is all about, then Christmas loses it's meaning. All the other traditions that we've attached to Christmas are secondary. But Jesus is the reason for the season.

During this time of year, there's an increase in charitable giving. There are many programs such as "Christmas Wish" and "Goodfellows" (in Owensboro) that raise funds to purchase gifts such as toys, clothing, and needed items for those children that are needy this time of year. Every year right after Thanksgiving, Goodfellows takes numerous donations for needy children so they can throw a Christmas party every year for needy children. Goodfellows is a program that's sponsored by Owensboro's Messenger-Inquirer. Lawrence Hager Sr., the publisher of Messenger-Inquirer years ago, started the Goodfellows Club in 1916. Times were rough that year and he was very concerned about local children not receiving food, clothing, or other necessary items for Christmas. As a result, he started the Goodfellows Club and it's been going strong ever since. Many organizations and individual people are very charitable this time of year. They try to help those families that are needy and unfortunate.

There are also many churches and organizations that will go Christmas caroling out in the hospitals and nursing homes. This is also the time of year for Christmas parades in our local communities. Many churches will host plays and cantatas commemorating the birth of Jesus. In Owensboro, Third Baptist Churches hosts a classical entitled, "The Messiah". It was written by George Friedrich Handel in 1741. If the cantata is played in its entirety, it would last for three hours. It features classical music commemorating the life of Jesus on earth. It's a great classic. "The Messiah" has been a Christmas tradition in Owensboro since 1941. The first production took place on December 7, 1941, the day Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese. Ever since then, the cantata has been hosted or or around December 7th every year. It's featured on the first Sunday in December.

Christmas will arrive in 28 days. From now until Christmas I will be writing a number of posts about the Christmas season. I will be writing posts about Christmas history and we will be learning the origins of the Christmas holiday and the progression of it. Also, I will be writing posts about some of the Christmas traditions that we celebrate. I will also be writing "thoughts from scripture" about Jesus's birth. Hopefully these posts will be informative. Let's commence in our celebration of this holiday season.