Who's Birthday ? Oh yeah , Jesus

As I sit here looking at the picture of Jesus I put on top of the entertainment center, I see the candle burning beside it as a memorial of the' Eternal Flame' that He is to us all. I see no decorated tree, none of the many decorations I usually put up for this time of year, no presents - not even one for my two grandsons that I'm raising. I can't help but wonder how we (' we' in the present & 'we' in the past ) have let Jesus fall so far behind a fat man in a red suit ( however jolly he may be ) It IS HIS birthday after all, not ours, yet we suffer in our hearts when we can't remember each other with gifts for one another on this day. We have ruined our children with thoughts of a 'Santa Claus', & the huge expectancy of gifts & presents, so much that many children know "santa' first & Jesus second. It should be the other way around, but for hundreds of years ,satan has laughingly used us to put the real reason for this day ,"Jesus', in the shadows,until our children may vaguely know that it is Jesus's birthday,but the first & most important reason for them ,is Santa & his flying reindeer, & presents & candy & all the glitter that goes with this time of year.It has become for many, ( adults included ) what Christmas is all about. Sad don't you think ? That we go thru this season expecting & coveting gifts for ourselves instead of gifts for the person who's birthday it really is ? I don't know about you , but on my birthday I'm not thinking about giving presents to everybody else. So why don't we think about what to give Jesus for His birthday? I hope & pray that my grandsons will take this message into their hearts & hold it dear for their own children someday. I've always tried to teach them the true meaning of Christmas, but, alas , I too , sprinkled it heavily with all the glitz & glitter of 'santa' when I could afford it. I'm glad they are old enough ( 13 & 15 ) to know that santa is'nt real & hope they can realize with a finality that " Jesus really IS the REASON FOR THE SEASON", & this will ease  the hurt of not seeing a tree with presents ,& a house full of decorations, that I didn't put up for the same reason, thinking that looking at it all thru the season & then coming up empty on Christmas morning would be worse than not seeing it at all. Hence the picture of Jesus with the burning candle , so they can see it everyday & contemplate the 'REAL REASON FOR THE SEASON> Merry CHRISTmas to all & HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR JESUS.