It was the night before Christmas and all through the house,
Were the gifts I just wrapped for the kids and my spouse.
The above mini-poem that I just wrote seems to be the meaning of Christmas for most Americans today; that is, buying, wrapping, giving, and receiving gifts for family members, close friends, and fellow workers.
The real purpose of Christmas -- the celebration of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago -- somehow seems to have been forgotten by most Christians. Except for hearing some Christmas songs on a CD or on the radio, most Americans devote little if any time even thinking about Christ during the Christmas season.
The fact is that we have become so involved with our own selfish desires -- such as giving and receiving gifts, decorating our homes, and going to parties -- that we have neglected the true meaning of Christmas.
In addition to exchanging gifts, the Christmas season should be a time when we genuinely glorify Christ and thank Him profusely for everything He has given us. In fact, Christ loved man so much, that He allowed Himself to be crucified, in order to save mankind.
We should fast, attend church services, and receive Holy Communion more often during the Christmas season to let Christ know that we really love and glorify Him.
To be sure, we can still "shop till we drop," and exchange gifts during "the most beautiful time of the year," but unless we also devote a large amount of our time worshiping and glorifying Christ, we have lost the true meaning of Christmas.
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