Commercial Christmas, part I

Thanksgiving has come and gone, signaling the beginning of every one's favorite holiday: Christmas. Christmas is a magical time. The aroma of the air is sweeter, a sign of good tidings, and great joy. Human interaction is kinder, people are happier, and the world is eager and excited. Parents rush about, waiting in endless lines, traversing numerous shopping websites, and driving miles to get the gifts so desired after by their children. Child after child dream of the joyous day when a man in a suit  will come down a chimney and leave treasures under the glimmering tree. People illuminate their homes with an array of multicolored lights to show Christmas spirit. Stores become warm and inviting places, beckoning people to purchase items for their loved ones. Holiday parties occur throughout the month as a sign of community. But there is a problem. While this all appears great and fantastic on the outside, and no doubt brings great memories, we have forgotten something. We have forgotten Jesus. I'm not talking to an individual person, or a group of people, but rather to our society as a whole. We have forgotten the Reason for the season. Christmas has become a commercial business for our society. It tells people that their children will be disappointed if they wake up to nothing. It states that your spouse will love you if you buy him or her this item. Christmas is about buying things. However, even worse than this is the fact the our society is making Christmas only about things. Jesus is getting pushed to the curb on His birthday. It's about us now, not Him. We as Christians should know better than to fall into this trap of a Commercial Christmas, and I believe many of us do, but we still feel pressured by society to buy. My own life can serve as an example of how most of us feel. My parents asked me to write a Christmas list of the gifts I would like to receive on Christmas day. To be honest, I could not think of anything. I did not want anything! But something in my subconscious being, guilted me into thinking that if I did not ask for anything, I would be against the crowd. I can't explain the thought, but I can tell you I'm ashamed I thought that way. The Commercial Christmas has taken  the world by storm, and it is only getting worse. Christmas isn't what it use to be, and the reason for the season is becoming something other than Jesus.