...You're Supposed to say MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I'm not sure what I'm going to write about sometimes.  Sometimes I plan something, sometimes not.  Today is a not.  I have been thinking about what a friend of mine said the other day to a little girl collecting money outside of Wal-Mart.  She was all decked out in her Christmas attire collecting money at a table.  My friend walks over and drops a few bucks into the jar and the girl says..."Happy Holidays!"  My friend whirled around and smiled.  She said..."You're supposed to say MERRY CHRISTMAS!"  So, the girl says, in a big voice, "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" and with a smile too!

I have all sorts of friends, friends that don't celebrate Christmas, ones that just don't do Santa and ones that see nothing by sparkly red and green for several months in advance.  So, I thought I'd share how we do things and you can take it for what it's worth.

Santa comes to our house but unfortunately I find relatives and strangers using him as a threat to our kids..."Santa is watching you!".  I think my kids should be good without dragging Santa into the picture.  Santa brings one big gift usually and the story is true that as long as you believe in Santa "he" will come.  So there.  That's the extent of it.  As for Christmas gifts, we want to teach our children the tradition of giving gifts.  It's not about receiving...we make gifts for others, they pick out gifts and they give to charities.  They may not like dropping in the "Kids Spy Kit" into the donation box sometimes but they fell good about when they do.  We try to do three gifts for our kids that center around the three gifts.

We celebrate Christmas, not because everyone else does, but because I believe the birth of Christ was as important as the resurrection.  He is our savior sent and he will return.  I'm sure that he would not appreciate all the fuss this time of year but would join in with the visitation of family and friends and the spirit of giving.  I'm sure that he would help the needy and teach His children.

So, as the days progress, I'll try not to get worked up over the things that don't really matter but enjoy the company that I have and the family I have been blessed with and the friends that care so much about each other.  I honestly wish that the secular holiday itself would disappear and we can focus on the true meaning of Christmas without all the Bling,  I pray certain friends of mine would open their hearts to the joy that Christ brings and that our community will step up and show the love of the season to others at all times.  No more running over each other in the store parking lots people!  I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas.