Friday, December 5, 2008

Where's Christmas?

This evening, I found myself wandering aimlessly in Walmart. I had dropped the boys off at Jump Extreme for Josh and Jake's birthday, and Jessie was at a birthday party as well, with Kristi. I was by MYSELF....imagine that!!! So I decided that I was going to do some Christmas shopping. What an opportunity knocking, and the doors literally opened for me. (they were electric with an infared sensor. ;-) )

So, after doing some shopping in the sporting goods for the kids, I decided that we needed a little nativity scene for the house, so I headed to the Christmas section. Seek and I shall find, was my state of mind, afterall the doors were opened for me. So, I went down each of about 8 isles near the garden section, and couldn't find anything. Oh, there were plenty of Santa Clauses and reindeer, and even some stockings with John Deere and Dale Ernhert Jr. on them, but not a single nativity scene.

I was sad. This is the first year that I really realized that we're losing Christmas. People have been saying it for years, but I never really understood it until this year. We're losing the meaning of it ALL. It's not about the birth of our savior anymore. It's about lights and ribbons and candy canes and trees and a million other things that aren't Christ.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not an old fuddy duddy that doesn't have fun with Saint Nick and Rudolph and Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree. I love that part of Christmas too. I really do! But for God's Sake, literally, let's get back to a little more Christmas and a lot less of the other stuff.

Have a Blessed Christmas Season! Cris

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

AMEN!!!

Anonymous said...

Cris,
You couldn't have said it better- I'm sick of all the people who are trying to take 'Christ' out of Christmas. Without Him, there would not be a holiday. I wish for your family a wonderful, blessed, happy and healthy (especially Jesse) Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour.

Kelly said...

Sad that you can't find the baby Jesus at Walmart. We're working on making gifts this year - although knowing that purchased items are under the tree too. We try to balance it with good deeds, and focus. Now, having said that 2 of my 4 children still call Him, "baby Cheese Its" - may have to blog about that. I still have to believe that many of us have firm faith in the true reason for the holiday - the alternative is just marketed to make us think we're a minority. Without Him how could our children still be here? Miracles are everywhere.

Unknown said...

Amen, amen, and Amen!!! One thing I enjoy about Christmas is decorating, but I am not obsessed by it like a relative of mine who will bug me over and over about when I am going to get this or that decoration out and on display. To me, Christmas goes way beyond the decorations and gifts. it is truly meant to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.

I hope that the whole Hall family has a most blessed Christmas, and God be with you.

Vanessa, Griffin, the Seeing Eye Dog, and Kitkat (household cat/boss)

Anonymous said...

Ten Thousand Villages sells a variety of hand-crafted nativity scenes.
But the birth of Christ is but one reason why individuals celebrate this time of year. We shall remember that the winter holiday was intended to celebrate the solstice and the reemergence from the dark. It is a Pagan holiday that Christians adopted to make the celebration acceptable. Christ is there. You just have to look for it.

Anonymous said...

Cris,

Ironic but we actually found a three piece nativity (Jesus, Joseph and Mary) last year following Christmas on sale for $25. We were quite pleased... I hope you were simply looking in the wrong section of the store. You are right, however... Christmas (and Christianity for that matter) seems to be losing steam...

Food for thought... Eddie