Christmas Season

I am more excited for Christmas this year than normal because not only do I get to celebrate the gift of Christ, but I get to have a vacation. The sad part is that I will not be seeing my family, my reasons for celebrating are slightly different from what I am used to. If you don't already know this I am a gung ho Christmas person. I had to stop myself from unpacking my decorations before Thanksgiving this year, and even though I won't be home for Christmas I had to get and decorate a tree. I am one of those people who would go around handing out candy and cards and reminding people of why we are celebrating. "Jesus is the reason for the season"! But I stand a bit corrected on that. In release time yesterday my youth asked me about the birth of Christ and historically when that would have happened. And no Jesus was not born in December but more likely in March or April, looking at when the census happened and a few other things. So why then do we celebrate now? The reason would be because it was a bit easier to celebrate at this time because of the Roman Equinox. But then it hit me, yes Jesus is why I celebrate now, but I shouldn't just celebrate his birth on a day, or even on a season. Saying Jesus is the reason for the season is one thing, but what about celebrating his birth every day? Isn't that what we are called to do as followers as Christ? Shouldn't we be so thankful that every day is an opportunity to show this thanks to our God through our actions, words, and very lives? Shouldn't we be more excited about telling others about Christ, then about putting up our Christmas decorations? I am ashamed that many of the things that made Christmas special were the temporary things I would find joy in. There are a few traditions I am sticking to this year. One is reading the story of the birth of Christ before opening gifts, another is carrying the joy of this season for the whole year through. Instead of Jesus being the reason for the season, Jesus is going to become my reason for every day.