The below message is copied from last year’s Dec. #144 article as I can not improve much on what I said before except that we need Christ in our lives more than ever.

It is Christmas time now and we hope that everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving and, as I suggested last month, you made a special effort to better understand what Thanksgiving really means and then gave proper thanks for all you have. Christmas is another special time for giving thanks but it’s more focused on thanking God and Jesus Christ for all they have given us. The Christian world has set apart this time of year to celebrate the birth of Christ and what he has done for all the world, not just a part, or a select few, but the entire world and all mankind from the beginning to the end. Thanksgiving is celebrated only in the U.S.A. but Christmas is celebrated all through the Christian world.

So here we are getting ready for another Christmas Holiday but unfortunately most people are focused on Santa Claus rather than on Christ. Generally speaking it’s the “commercialism” of Christmas that takes our focus away from Christ. This is where the advertising media, the news media, social media, and politically correct politicians trying to make themselves look good are doing every thing they can to undo Christian values and take Christ out of the holiday season.

Saying “Merry Christmas” has a lot more meaning than saying “Happy Holidays”. I decorate a “Christmas Tree”, I open “Christmas Gifts on Christmas Morning”, there’s Christmas Caroling, Christmas Cards, Christmas Shopping, Christmas Parties, and Christmas Everywhere and there’s just no way to get away from it. It is the most joyous time of the year. Most of the time people are so much more friendly, kind, and generous during the Christmas Holidays.

I reverence the name of Christ and I remember Him and what He has done for ALL mankind. He did not play favorites and what He did He did freely for all of us regardless of who we are, what we believe, or where we live. He was the ultimate example of how we should be, how we should live, and how we should treat others. Imagine how the world “could be” if we understood Christ and followed His example. We’d have so much more joy, peace, understanding, kindness, forgiveness, tolerance, gratitude, and especially love. These are the attributes of Christ and what He taught. Have you ever went Christmas shopping, or anywhere for that matter, with your heart focused on Christ and his example? People will notice the peaceful countenance you have and will feel the genuineness when you say “Merry Christmas” to them. Then it will spread to others, then to others, and so on. It’s called the “Christmas Spirit”. So let’s all get the Christmas Spirit and spread it everywhere we go and not just to Grandma’s house but everywhere.

Christmas is all about Christ and not Santa Claus and shopping. Giving is a good thing and receiving is a good thing, however, giving and receiving with the Christmas Spirit is so much better.

This Christmas Season fill yourselves with the Christmas Spirit and share your time, talents in service to others, be extra kind, generous, tolerant, forgiving, humble, understanding, and learn to love everyone like Christ did and your heart will be filled with everlasting joy. MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!