Article Submitted by Dr. Tunishai Ford
THE SPIRIT IN YOU
Jesus' Reflection
of Christmas
What does Christmas mean to you? Does it mean spending time with your family? Is it getting your grandchildren for the Christmas break because you will not get to see them again until the summer? Does it mean getting your favorite items on sale and wearing your favorite outfit? Or better yet, it is the time to travel, and get away to some exotic place?
Since we started celebrating Christmas, it has become a time when retail merchants make their greatest profits and Santa Claus becomes more popular than Michael Jordan. It has become so commercialized and self-centered that I wonder if we really know why we should be celebrating Christmas.
Every year, various organizations try to provide toys and clothing for needy children and there are probably more charitable events for the homeless and disadvantaged than any other time of year. People travel near and far to visit family members they have not seen all year. All these wonderful things are practiced during this time, but as soon as Christmas is over, everything reverts to the way it was. Those same children are just as needy throughout the year but who is concerned? The homeless and disadvantaged are still in need of food and shelter but are often turned away.
"Christmas is the day that we are to
celebrate the birth
of Jesus Christ and commemorate
His life and teachings."
The family members that you do not see all year are just as much your family when it is not Christmas, yet the exchange of hellos may very seldom take place between you and a loved one who lives nearby.
These things I command you, that ye love one another (John 15:17, KJV).
I do not know about you, but I see something wrong with all of this. Christmas is the day that we are to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and commemorate His life and teachings. It is the time of focusing on exemplifying what He taught us throughout His lifetime by displaying it to others all year round and not just for a day or one month. He is the only one I know who has a birthday and does not get a gift. What