My husband says to me, “what do you want for Christmas?” I answer “nothing”, and he obliges. To me Christmas is one of the most sacred of days. It is the day that my Savior, my King, my Redeemer was born and for that reason alone, I celebrate. Other than that, I find little reason to celebrate.

To many folks, it is a day/season to spend too much money on unneeded and unnecessary “things”. I believe that if these things are needed and necessary they would be bought at the time that they are needed and deemed necessary. So many are entrenched in the mindset of more and more and more; posting, streaming, snapping, pinning, tweeting pictures of mountains of presents under, over and around their tree. For what? For what purpose? Do you really think that the person opening the gift will love you more or less depending on the dollar amount spent? If that is true, then there really isn’t any love there.

However, if I were to make a list of what I wanted for Christmas, what would it be? Here are a few on my thoughts…

How about we stop killing our unborn children and instead speak life and love to our young daughters; teaching them to honor and respect their bodies and the live child they carry within them.

How about we honor and revere our elders for their contributions to our world, and not dump them haphazardly into a nursing home to be looked after and loved by strangers.

How about we find a way to make sure that every single person that wants or needs a job has one.

How about we find a way to make sure that every single person that wants or need a bed to sleep in has one.

How about for the single mom or dad, we offer them an hour of our time to take a shower or a nap to recharge.

How about we find a way to speak life and love into the addict and alcoholic; not just offering a pill or a shot to replace the drug of choice, but really find out what’s behind the need to medicate by helping them to heal the pains and hurts in the lives.

How about we knock on our neighbor’s door and ask if there is anything we can do for them.

How about we spend 48 cents and drop a card to a soldier deployed… and for that matter check in on the wife/husband and kids at this time.

How about we visit that nursing home, have a chat with a total stranger, and find out about their life.

How about to the homeless man on the street corner asking for money we don’t jump to the conclusion that if we give them a dollar they are just going to buy booze. If you believe that, then bring them a 2 dollar Happy Meal.

How about we find out what we can do for a hungry family or a lonely senior? Knock on the door of any church, temple or synagogue; they can tell you about the needs of their community during this season.

How about we find out about organizations that work with victims of sex trade – they are out there… did you know that? I didn’t until this year.

How about we contact local food banks and see what they need. Perhaps donate some peanut butter and a couple loaves bread to help them feed those that have nothing.

Perhaps you can deliver your extra blankets, coats, mittens, hats and scarves to a shelter? Don’t have any? Then $5 and 5 minutes in any Salvation Army store and you’ve hit the mother load.

How about we put down the credit cards, step away from Amazon overnight shipping, put down the forever list of “I Wants” and address what Christmas is really all about…

Christmas is not about who can buy the most or find the most interesting gift, or be the best at going into debt. No.

Christmas should be a season of great joy! It is a time of God showing His enormous love for us. It is a time of healing and renewal. Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of the Christ child.

The God of this universe sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be born. His birth brought great joy to the world. Shepherds, wise men, and angels all shared in the excitement of knowing about this great event. They knew this was no ordinary baby. The prophets had told of His coming hundreds of years before. The star stopped over Bethlehem just to mark the way for those who were looking for this special child.

Luke 2:4-19 says:

“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (NIV)

Why did the Christ Child come? Why did God send His son to this often times cruel and difficult world? He sent His Son Jesus to this world so that one day, Jesus would grow up to be the most important man in history. His story (history) is one of truth, love, and hope. His birth brought eternal hope and salvation to all of us.

We can truly be happy at Christmas! No matter what may be happening in our lives at this very moment, every one of us can know that we are His child. We can become sons and daughters of God where Heaven will be our home one day.

What I write here are my own thoughts. This is what is in my heart in this season. Am I saying, don’t buy gifts for you children, spouses, families… No. That is not what I am saying at all. All I’m asking is that for each person that reads this and those you share it with, will look into their heart and consider these words.

Look at Christmas in a new way this year. This is the year to invite Jesus into your heart and life to live there every day, not just on December 25. Then you will have a reason to say “Merry Christmas.” The joy and peace you will receive will last all year as you look to God and not man for all your needs to be met. Jesus Is The Reason For The Season! Rejoice!

Merry Christmas!