Christmas and other thoughts

By: mellowsong Mood: Angry Date: 12/30/2007 12:21:47 Music: None

This Christmas season has been hard for me spiritually.  The only time I felt the "Christ" in Christmas was during the Lessons and Carols service at my church (Bible readings followed by relevent carols and other songs).  I am so fed up with all the commercialism. 

I wish I had the courage to announce to family and friends that I will no longer celebrate Christmas.  If I didn't have small grandchildren, that is exactly what I'd do.  I love my oldest daughter with all my heart, but she doesn't believe in Jesus as the savior and her husband states he is an atheist, so why should I buy presents for their kids who have had almost no opportunity to learn about Jesus?  I used to take the oldest one to church with me when I could, but I no longer live near them.  I always send religious cards, but they are probably meaningless to the boys.   I do pray for her and her family constantly and she is searching.  Next year I want to find something more meaningful to do to get my point across.  I know the kids expect gifts, but maybe I can make a donation to something in their name.  At least I have a whole year to think about it :) 

This year, I've really had to start wondering about Christmas and Easter.  I have a very close friend who believes that it is wrong to celebrate these as not only are they NOT Biblical but especially because they are "replacements" of pagan feasts.  I understood and respected where she is coming from, but hadn't really agreed.  Yesterday I had the thought that the Biblical Jewish feasts have not been corrupted into crass commercialism as have Christmas and Easter, so maybe that indicates these celebrations are not what Jesus wants.  I'm so confused.

I just know that to me, Christmas and Easter have always held a special place in my heart because of Jesus.  With Him gone from these celebrations there is emptiness and sadness in my heart instead of joy.  I looked around at decorations around town and as I traveled.  I'll bet maybe 1 in 300 or more houses had a creche.  I am so sick of Santa and reindeer and snowmen.  These definitely indicate a winter pagan feast more than a Christian HOLYday.  Why aren't other Christians protesting?  If we are truly 80% of the population in this country, how have we let "political correctness" corrupt our beliefs and naively go along with it?  I am immensely frustrated.  I do little things like say "Merry CHRISTmas" (saying the word Christ) to cashiers etc.  I try to avoid stores that have gone to Happy Holidays, but that's almost impossible.  I do ALL my Christmas shopping online because the crowds and materialism sicken me and I have done this for about 9 years now.  I was totally angry in that I had to go to a Christian book store to find the true story of Christmas for my almost 2 year old grandson.  That's outrageous!!! I'm just one person, why isn't there a huge outpouring of protest from Christians?

On a happier note, I did have the opportunity to meet up with most of my family for Christmas.  We all met at my brother's house in Dothan.  It was absolutely wonderful.  I hadn't seen my oldest daughter and her family or my other brother for 2 years.  My youngest daughter, her husband and the 2 babies came with me.  That was one marvelous part about Christmas, getting to be with loved ones.  I miss my family so much.

If I had ever had any doubts about the wisdom of eliminating all sugar and refined foods from my diet, this little trip proved how right it is.  Although I didn't go insane and eat nothing but garbage, I did have bread, a little candy, potatoes, stuffing etc.  Within 24 hours, I had morphed into the wicked witch of the west.  I am ashamed of the way I treated my daughter.  We are extremely opposite, I am punctual, she has never been on time in her life.  I know this about her and had calmed down a lot about it BUT on this trip, I was continually blowing up.  I KNEW she would never be ready on time, I should have been the one to bend, not expect her to.  I've apologized to her and her hubby over and over, but I still feel terrible about it.  I immediately went back on my regime upon returning, but I still feel sluggish and my pain is out of control.  I am 100% totally convinced that sugar is a poison.  Next time I go somewhere else to eat, I will not be afraid to say I can't eat something.  I will go hungry or provide for myself.  The problem is, I don't know if I have the will power to do so.  It's easy in my own home, I just don't buy it so temptation isn't there.  Put a dish of stuffing in front of me (which is probably my favorite food ever) can I really push it away?  Only with God's help.

If anyone reading this has any ideas about a better way to celebrate Christmas, I'd really appreciate hearing them.

Happy New Year!!!