A Time for Family & The Lord

I love the Christmas season, if for nothing else, for the chance to get together with family.  Of course, culture will tell you that being with family is a disaster.  My wife and I just saw 4 Christmases in the theater, which is all about why you should avoid family during Christmas.  Granted, many homes are broken and dysfunctional.  I guess that is why I want to continue to lead my family towards becoming a Godly household, a tradition that dates back generations.  Now, more than ever the family unit seems to be attacked my Satan, and he's doing a good job.  Now, more than ever, we as Christians need to be an example to the community around us how having God in the center and foundation of your family will bring peace and joy to your household.

In my family growing up, we were taught not to celebrate the day so much but the reason for the day.  We celebrated Christ being born on earth.  It was a bit easier for us also because my dad was a pilot and we rarely opened presents on the 25th of December.  A lot of people who have to work on Christmas can relate.  I'm sure nurses who wear their Peaches scrubs and doctors in their medical clothes share the same experience with their families.  Police officers and other government officials deal with the same issue.  Anyway, for us as kids, it helped us not get so caught up in the consumerism.

Don't get me wrong.  I like giving and receiving gifts on Christmas.  I bought my wife a beautiful organic dress this year, and it was incredible to watch her face light up.  But what I'm saying is that I want all of my traditions to point to Christ.  Gift giving makes sense for the holiday because God becoming a man was the greatest gift ever given to humankind.  But pouting, selfishness and idolizing materials as our god is not what I want.