Ho Ho - Hold on a minute!

Last night I go to Walgreens – we’re out of pull-ups (imagine that) – as I pull into the parking lot I see Christmas trees on display through the windows. Now, for obvious reasons, I live day to day so things do have a way of sneaking up before I realize it is “that” time, but damn! Christmas trees and candy canes in October? I’m thinking, “Should I just buy ornaments and pass them out tomorrow night during Halloween?”

I love Christmas – I have tons of Christmas spirit – It is my favorite time of year. It is about friends and family, snuggling and snickering, mistletoe and mangers, decorations and dasher and dancer…you get my point. But when I am preparing to dress my kids up in their costumes, pass out Halloween candy, go on a hayride and enjoy the Halloween “spirits”, the last thing I want to see and even think about is Christmas.

I was initially discouraged at my attitude about early “Christmas”…after all; think about the “reason for the season” as they say. But then it hit me – (or should I say the Christmas “light bulb” went off in my head?) – My frustration is not about getting in the spirit earlier it is about the commercialization that surrounds this early celebrating; about big corporations that could care less about Jesus and are using our vulnerability to get us to buy more and more, sooner and sooner. They want to make the Christmas season a three-month marketing affair. Aweee, how special! This entire hullabaloo dilutes what Christmas is all about and by the time it actually arrives we are so over it. Before you know it the word “Christmas” will be replaced by “Commercialmas”.

I am certain that this has nothing to do with me being a Grinch – my heart is definitely not 3 sizes too small – but I refuse to get caught up in the exploitation of such a sacred holiday – My family and I will keep our point of view and remember Christmas as priceless family time that is less about the presents and more about the baby in the manger.

Any Questions?
© Chaos