Merry Merry Merry Christmas!

How are you planning to spend your Christmas? Are you stressed out? Over scheduled? Or maybe lonely and wondering why everyone else in the world is so happy.

What is "Christmas"?

"The word Christmas originated as a compound meaning "Christ's Mass". It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038.[6] "Cristes" is from Greek Christos and "mæsse" is from Latin missa (the holy mass). In Greek, the letter Χ (chi), is the first letter of Christ, and it, or the similar Roman letter X, has been used as an abbreviation for Christ since the mid-16th century.[13] Hence, Xmas is often used as an abbreviation for Christmas." -Wikipedia (please see here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas for more)

It has taken several years of Christmases to finally stop spending our family into a hole every year. Gifts gifts gifts. My dream Christmas is one where ALL the gifts, even for the kids, are home made. Gifts that are sewn, woven, carved, grown, baked, and full of love. Christmas reminds me every year how all our modern technology has sucked and drained the simplicity and contentment out of living. Children often require lights, sounds, batteries, and lots of big huge boxes to be satisfied; it's what their peers get and what the media is telling them they should have!
Wouldn't it be so fun to fill a stocking with oranges, peppermint sticks, and paper dolls knowing that your little one is going to be thrilled at the loot!
I know, I know, Christmas is not about the gifts or the getting, but don't these things have something in common with the true meaning of Christmas. I think so. I think what we could be teaching our children, is that because of the baby in the manger we have EVERYTHING we could possibly want! We have purpose, everlasting life, and a God-Father who loves us. Contentment! When you feel full and content in God's love, everything else is a just a nice little treat. No more trying to fill the empty void inside with things, false promises, and "human love". Families will be broken, money will be short, and life will be hard...
but a fresh orange and a kiss from mommy and daddy on the day the savior was born, what a real treat!