The Reason

I haven't really written anything thought provoking in a very long time so I'm going to attempt to get those wheels turning with this one..

With Christmas being tomorrow (just wait; it'll sneak up on you), I feel like I should comment on the reason for the season. What is the reason for the season? (I recently spent some time with my girlfriend's niece watching Dora the Explora so lets do this Dora style)... Can you tell me the "reason for the season"?... (three second pause to let 3 year olds across the nation yell at the television)... Si! It's Cristo Jesus! Muy Bien!!!

Well if Jesus is the short answer, what's the long answer? Well, why do you think Christmas is important? Should we use the season to be thankful for Christ laying down his own life so that we can live eternally? Should we use the season as an opportunity to reach out to others to let them know that Jesus loves them too? If Jesus were to preach a sermon on Christmas, what do you think he would say about it?

I am the last person on earth who should be putting words in Jesus' mouth, but I think I have a pretty good idea of what he would want to say. I think he would ask why everyone is getting so worked up once a year. Why do we wait until Christmas to make the effort to send off presents, reach out to the needy, or show everyone that we think Christ is the reason for the season? Is Christ not the reason for every season? Instead of TWOC, why not FTWOC (fifty-two weeks of Christmas)?

I think the Lord wants us to celebrate every day like it's Christmas. How do we do that? Well, how do you act around Christmas? Greet everyone with a smile. Be nice to people you usually don't have anything to do with. Sing all the time! Give gifts to people who don't deserve them; do even more for the people that do deserve them. Tell people why you are so happy; actually be happy.

Let people know the reason for the season. But even more, don't let the season end after December 25th. Keep giving, keep smiling, keep reaching out EVERYDAY!