**Keeping Christ in Christmas

We've had several ghost blogs come in through these last two or three weeks-to be fair to all of our ghost bloggers, we are going to post them occasionally, not all at once-to make sure they get equal attention. Let our Ghost Blogger know what you think!

Keeping Christ in Christmas

Let me start by saying this topic about by me needing to clarify my thoughts as we struggle with this holiday season knowing that I am not the only one struggling this Christmas. Our country has had a difficult year with a faltering economy. Only now do you we see that we, as a whole, have lost sight of the little things that are really the most important.

Christmas is right around the corner. I can hear it coming saying “ready or not, here I come”. I find myself wishing I could ignore it all together, knowing that in fact I cannot ignore it. You need to know that I have two beautiful children waiting on Santa. My daughter has asked every morning, “Is Santa coming today, mama?” everyday for months. I keep telling her, “Not yet, you have to wait a little longer.” While I have this huge sinking feeling. I wonder to myself where has all the splendor gone? Christmas has always been something I have looked forward to. I even decorated a Christmas tree for my daughter when I was still very much pregnant, knowing she wouldn’t even see it, let alone enjoy it. Now, five years later I have the tree up, the house is decorated, but there is absolutely nothing under our tree. I look at that tree and it just breaks my heart to know that I will not have anything to put under that tree. They will have present under there soon, only because papa will be here in a week, but not from mom and dad. This is why I feel haunted by Christmas this year.

Since I am being so open with you, let me tell you that ‘haunting’ feeling makes me angry. I do not go to church every Sunday, but I was raised to believe in God. And here I am worried about material things, knowing that Christmas is not about presents at all. Christmas is supposed to be about celebrating our lives, family, friends and most important the birth of Christ, our savior. I am asking you to think about this; when did the birth of Christ turn into spending money on material things. When frankly that is not what Christmas is suppose to be about. You can’t turn on a TV with out seeing something about the hottest toys of the season. But don’t hold your breath waiting for anything about the true meaning of Christmas.

Now let me make it clear that I am not looking for pity or hand outs. I have more the most can ask for this Christmas. I have a wonderful husband two beautiful children and another on the way. We have a roof over our heads, food in the pantry, and plenty of love to go around. My husband has also been struggling with the same feelings about not providing the ‘perfect Christmas’ for me or the kids. He works hard and it is apparent to everyone who knows him. He doesn’t have just one job, but two! Not to mention being a father and a husband. So when he brought up the topic of how he had failed us the Christmas. I responded with the fact that he has given us everything we need. That is when it hit me like a ton of bricks that tree may look empty, but it is not. It is filled with a love greater then I can put into words. A love from two parents that would move heaven and earth for our children. And the greatest gift of all, our lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

So the one thing I hope you take away from this rant to revelation, is as you celebrate this Christmas give thanks for what you DO have, not what you don’t. This country has fallen on hard times; it is only know that we can clearly see that Christmas is not about how much money we may or may not spend on someone, but how much we have to be thankful for.

Hush,
The Baby sleeps
In the arms of His loving mother.
The night is still
And the beasts of the stable
Hover near
In soundless adoration.

Hush,
The world's asleep
In the dreams of this loving Infant,
And our hearts our still
In boundless adoration.

Sleep, Child, sleep
Your sleep of purity.
Sleep, world, sleep
In God's Security.

~Van Varner

Hoping to all who read this you have a wonderful Christmas!
-Al