Second in a Series of
“The Duh-Huhs of Christmas”
I have heard that the song “Twelve Days of Christmas” (one
of the most annoying songs I have ever heard, rivaled only by “99 Bottles of
Beer on the Wall”) is secret code to remember basic tenants of Christianity or Catholicism
when the practice was outlawed. But, duh huh, doesn’t using the word “Christmas”
itself give it away? I mean anyone who sings Christmas songs or celebrates
Christmas MUST be a Christian. OOPS! My bad.
As we can see in our present culture, that is not true at
all. Jesus has been completely usurped by Santa and “Making a List;” giving to
people by people until you go into debt and hope other people spend as much as
you did on them or you will hold a grudge, overarches any understanding of
receiving the gift of a Savior coming to live life as we do, so we can never
say to God – “You have no idea how hard this life is!” At least one person I
know from every culture and religion celebrates Christmas in some form. I say
this merely to point out that celebrating does not mean believing (including
those who call themselves Christians), not as criticism. It would be hard to
avoid Christmas altogether in a society consumed with consumerism! Though I would say people of the Jewish faith
follow their own faith most closely at this time of year, maintaining their own
beliefs as separate – perhaps made easier by a similar time frame for a holiday
celebration. Or who knows, maybe that makes it harder…
So if I am not criticizing per se, why the duh huh? Because
as a whole, the American culture is very accepting of so many things and people
without criticism (which is good), or hate certain groups of people based
solely on skin color or religion or place of birth (which is bad), but we tend
to do so without knowledge or understanding (which is risky). Why risky? If any
time of year is the right time to ponder the gift of eternal life, it is
Christmas. And that gift is not in 12 golden rings, or a pretty tree, or shop ‘til
you drop. It is in the birth of one very special baby. If you don’t really
understand what that first “Christmas” was all about, isn’t it time you asked?
Keeping Christ in
Christmas – Part 1: Three Things Jesus Came to Reveal About God
Keeping Christ in Christmas – Part 3: When God Messes Up Your Plans OR God Made You for a Purpose OR God Has a Bigger Plan for Your Life than You Have for Your Life (A bigger purpose than you can ever imagine!)
Keeping Christ in Christmas – Part 4:
Keeping Christ in Christmas – Part 3: When God Messes Up Your Plans OR God Made You for a Purpose OR God Has a Bigger Plan for Your Life than You Have for Your Life (A bigger purpose than you can ever imagine!)
Keeping Christ in Christmas – Part 4:
Heather J. Kirk Art by Heather J. Kirk www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html
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