It seems more and more each year that people complain that Christmas is becoming too commercial.  Well if people would start focusing on the true meaning of Christmas the commercial aspect would disappear.  To me, Christmas has three means.  The first and most important being the birth of Jesus Christ.  The second the time I get to spend with my family and friends.  The three being giving to others.

The celebration of Jesus birth should be the center around everything we do throughout our lives and especially around Christmas.  Without the birth of that special baby, we would all be bound for hell cause we all fallen short of the glory of God.  I think Christ’s birth gets lost a lot of time during Christmas.  You see families fighting, people being depressed, and others going crazy to get certain gifts.  How does that show honor to Christ on his birth?  It should be about sharing in his love, being kind to each other, and just sharing about the things God has blessed us with.

I think the number one thing we all take for granted is our friends and family.  What if for a whole entire week we had no contact with any friends or family?  I don’t know about you but I would go crazy.  My family and friend mean the world to me.  So Christmas time gives me excuse to spend extra time with them and to show them how much they mean to me through gifts.  We should be thankful for our friends and family.  

Another important part of Christmas should be giving back.  Last year I got the opportunity to spend part of my Christmas break in Texas on a mission trip.  I don’t know if any of you have heard of Mission Arlington.  It is a great mission field in Texas built on spreading the kingdom of God.  They have mini churches all through the Arlington, Forth Worth, and Dallas area that meet in tiny apartments.  During the Christmas time, they have a Christmas shop where families can come to get gifts for their family if they cannot afford it.  They tell the Christmas story and thousands are saved every year.  I got to help for a week out there.  It was the hardest work I have ever done.  We were up at eight in the morning and did not quick until three in the morning.  My body hurt all over but it was the most rewarding work.  To give back just seemed to make Christmas that year so much more special.  

This year I won’t be going a mission trip, but I plan to find a way to give back.  We take for granted of everything we have.  There are a lot of people out there that barely have enough to eat at night never mind heat.  They have never had a fancy Christmas that many of us enjoy every year.  So instead of worrying about if you will get what you want for Christmas spend time finding a way to give back.  Donate some clothes that you never wear, volunteer at a local soup kitchen, or donate money to a good Christian organization.  

Christ, family, friends, and giving is the meaning of Christmas to me.  If you aren’t keeping your focus on those things, then you aren’t having a true Christmas.  You need to look into your life and heart and figure out when December 25th turned into something else.  Bring the true meaning of Christmas out this year.  Grow in your relationship with Christ.  Go out and tell or show your friends and family how much they mean to you.  Lastly go out and share what you have with someone that has less cause no matter how little you have there is someone out there that is worst off than you.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas holidays!!!