As the 25th of December approaches I find myself rather disgusted.  This season of shopping irks me more and more each year.  This year - like never before.  I feel rather ashamed for the hedonistic ways of the majority of my fellow americans.  As I said, each year the disgust has been building.  This year I know why I have such an unsettled, nauseated feeling about it. 

It's the origins of this "holiday" Christmas.  The day Christians chose to slap Christ's name upon and claim as their celebration of His birth.  I've know for a long time what the origin of Christmas was, and many of the traditions.  Last year at this time (and even a few months ago) I was all caught up in the bruhaha over the "banning" of the word Christmas in advertisements and promotions.  I was just as angry as the next Christian that Christ was being dismissed by businesses in favor of saying "happy holidays".  The way I saw it, businesses make their fourth quarter profits off of Christians for Christmas purchases, how dare they not say "Merry Christmas" in return.  Sure, they make a profit off of Chanukkah gifts too, I suppose, and maybe even some Kwannza items??  But, by and large, it's Christmas purchases that make the quarter.

Praise God, He corrected me!  Just as two wrongs don't make a right, calling a pagan holiday by Christ's name cannot change it's origins and purpose.  Oh, of course we can honor and celebrate Christ - any day of the year, why not every day of the year!  But a pagan holiday it started and it is no less pagan today.  I'll probably offend some but I like to say what I feel led to say:  Christians haven't changed that holiday - that holiday has changed Christians.  And we are worse off for it! 

I'm no longer in agreement that businesses should put Christ in their advertising.  I don't want them to say Merry Christmas.  I don't want them using my savior ever again.  As far as celebrating Christmas, I must admit, I'm very torn.  I love the lights, the decorated tree, "that" feeling.  I know the origin of the tree and I feel guilty for putting it up in my home, tho it's decorated with angels and little things that say "Jesus Lives" and "He is risen", little glass birds, and old fashioned glass ornaments.... I still have that nagging feeling that the tree itself is wrong.  This year I can hardly look at it without the word "groves" coming to mind.

I'm talking to God about it and studying.  I'm awfully glad that I know Jesus as my savior.  I'm eternally grateful for that gift.  I pray that you know Him and love Him too.