Where’s Your Focus this Season?

Dear Judy, Here we go again with the Holiday issues! I have read your column before where people have questions concerning this season, but I am still going to write to you with my concern about this special time. It is Money, Money, Money and the expectations I feel concerning this season. It annoys me when the focus is off the reason for the season, Jesus, and on the fat man in the red suit and all the glitz and the push to buy, as if that’s what Christmas is about. I mean, I get really out of sorts and it affects me a lot. Many of the churches do not even have services Christmas Eve or Christmas Day! Annoyed!

Dear Annoyed,

I totally agree with you and I go a step farther. Instead of saying Merry Christmas, many say Happy Holidays to not offend someone. So I choose everywhere I go during this season to say Merry Christmas to as many people as I can while running around getting stuff done for the very special day. We are not responsible for what others do; only for what we do. It is our choice how much we spend. If we are pushed to spend more than we have or should spend, that is no one’s fault but our own.

I do not entertain the idea of Santa Claus, but there was an Old Saint Nick in history; sadly, it has gotten far away from that concept. But again, it is our choice what we do with that. This is a special time for me personally, and it sounds like it is for you also. I do not allow others and their ideas to take that from me. My husband and I always find a service to attend on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It might not be where we are accustomed to going, but if they are lifting up Jesus and His birth, then that is the service for us.

I always have a choice in everything I do, and so do you. I also like to go and join with those ministries that are feeding the homeless or giving out gifts. Sometimes I go to rest homes and visit people who have no one to visit them. I ask what they would like (within reason, of course), and I go buy it and give it to them. This blesses not only them, but me also.

At Christmastime, I focus everything on the birth of Jesus which is the greatest gift of all. I meditate on Luke 2:10 that says,

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.”

And Luke 2:11-14,

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord… And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

I think it will help if we remember these words from the Bible and not allow the season to frustrate us. Rather, let’s help others know Jesus is the reason for the season. I choose not to be annoyed. Why not make that your choice too!

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