There Is No Christmas without Christ!

Every year we seem to get further and further away from the real meaning of the Christmas Season.  When I was a young child, we used to joke about how quickly the Christmas decorations would come out after Thanksgiving.  This year, I saw Christmas decorations on the shelves of stores BEFORE Halloween!!! 

We seem to have lost sight, almost completely, of this season.  When people talk about Christmas it is Santa Claus and presents.  I read a story today that was talking about Christmas music and not one of the songs mentioned was religious.  They were all about Santa and snow.  Public decorations must now be non-religious, lest they offend someone.  My family will prominently display a manger scene in our front yard.

At my Knights of Columbus meeting last night, Father Bill spoke on keeping Christ in Christmas as much as we can.  He mentioned saying "Merry Christmas" vs. Happy Holidays.  I do that all the time, making it a point to wish the store clerk a Merry Christmas when she offers me a Happy Holidays, only to have her admit to me that she would rather say Merry Christmas but is not allowed to. 

One of my Brother Knights mentioned that on the back of every one of his Christmas cards he affixes a homemade sticker that reminds the receiver to keep Christ in Christmas.  I am going to start doing that this year.

So please, when you are out and about this year, don't let yourself get too wrapped up in the "Holiday Season" so that you forget it is the "Christmas Season" and we are waiting for the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas to you all and may you be blessed each and every day.