Well, it's almost Christmas again.
I'm in my eighties now, and Christmas sure has changed from when I was a boy.
Back then, when I was a child, families spent time together or stayed home; if they didn't they visited friends and family members, went to church, or caroled the neighbors. Not very many stores were open, and you could forget about restaurants being open.
People also appreciated the gifts and the thoughtfulness behind them. They cherished what they got; you hardly heard anybody complain.
Nowadays, people go shopping or out to eat on Christmas Day. They may be with their families still, but it isn't the same. All they care about is spending money (and all the store or restaurant owners care about is making money, to boost sales or revenue). They want the finest gadgets; nothing less will do. They want things like flat screen HD televsions, computers, a new car, or a cruise.
People want the finest in clothes, cars, toys. Nothing simple or homemade will do unless you're older like me. Value or commitment don't matter any more.
They've also forgotten the reason for the season: the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Commercialism or figures such as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty The Snowman, Jack Frost, or The Grinch Who Stole Christmas seem to have taken center stage while Jesus (or anything holy) seems to have been shoved into the background only to be mentioned briefly.
Nowadays people can be chided if they pass out candy canes, tracts, Bibles, or if they sing Christmas carols. It's like the word "Jesus" (or God) has become a dirty word. Yet those who don't believe can push their politically correct agenda upon us without a second thought and seem highly offended if we even MENTION the word "Christ" (or "Jesus").
If you ask me, there's something seriously wrong here. And I don't like it one bit!
It's no wonder people have become so self-centered and selfish. They've taken the peace, joy, and hope of the season OUT and think only of themselves and their Christmas (or Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or other non-traditional) holiday celebrations. They no longer call a Christmas tree a Christmas tree: it's a holiday tree. They no longer say Merry Christmas: it's Season's Greetings or Happy Holidays.
And it's all about the shopping or getting the biggest, brightest, most expensive present money can buy, not thinking about the debt they're putting themselves (or their loved ones) in and then complain when the credit card bills start rolling in.
Go figure.
No thanks. I don't need none of that political correctness bullcrap. Give me the REAL reason for the sason, the simpler times gone by, or else I will stop celebrating Christmas. 'Twas would be a sad thing if I did 'cause Christmas up to now has always been one of my very favorite holidays of the year. Now Christmas has lost its meaning, and I don't know what to do in order to bring it back: my kids don't want to have anyting to do with Christ or the real reason for Christmas!
