"That Christmas Magic" may very well sound like a Hallmark Channel movie. A girl returns home for the holidays. She is very successful and somewhat happy. She runs into an "Old Flame" but wants nothing to do with him. Due to circumstances, they keep "running into each other", they have a misunderstanding, they work things out, fall in love again and at the end of the movie they walk arm in arm with the snow falling and Christmas lights all around and they both say, "Isn't Christmas so magical?" He, maybe I should write a Hallmark movie? No way, I'm not interested!
So, what has Christmas become to our world? Santa Claus? Fun cartoons of a reindeer with a shiny nose or a snowman who, when you put a magic hat on his head he says, "Happy Birthday?" Or how about shopping, shopping and more shopping. We spend money some of us don't have hoping the gifts we give will be a blessing to family and friends. As a kid growing up in New Jersey, Christmas had two meanings to me. the first was going to church. We were Catholic and my mom made sure we would all go to Mass on Christmas Eve. The was before our traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner with many fish entree's, spaghetti and more food you could feed an army with. As a kid, that Mass seemed like it was 4 hours long, but it was really maybe one or so. During that Mass I would daydream about what Santa was bringing me and also my creative mind would go wild wondering how cool it would be to swing from light to light like Tarzan in the church. I was 7 years old so whatever the Priest was saying I had little interest. Maybe if he brought out a puppet i would probably remember what he was saying! I knew as a kid that Christmas was really celebrating the birth of Jesus but what always confused me was the second meaning. So, which meaning was I supposed to celebrate. Jesus Birth? That Christmas Magic? All that fun stuff?
The second meaning of Christmas in our family was simple. We got ready for Santa to come to our home and deliver presents to Paula, Dave and Mike. I always wondered how this heavy-set man would fit in our chimney. Paula and Mike would have to wake me up. I was not a morning person until I had kids! Up until adulthood I was not easy to wake up. When I got married and started having babies, I had to change quickly! We would wait on the steps until Dad said it was okay to come down. We opened our stockings then opened our gifts. When we lived in New Jersey the first nine years of my life, we always had a real tree that was decorated with ornaments and lights! As a kid, I always felt that December 25 was a magical day. Yet, I never understood why we had to have 2 meanings to this special day.
Please understand I am not saying we should not have fun and be totally serious and "spiritual and be a "wet blanket" or "stick in the mud." It is a fun time, and it should be! I actually miss hanging icicle lights on my house and putting up decorations as well as a Christmas tree with ornaments, lights, decorations and garland. Since I have been blogging, it seems as though every December I always blog about this topic mainly because it really bothers me. It saddens me that for so many years, man has decided to make Christmas a financial opportunity instead of what it really is...The birth of Jesus Christ! I know many theologians will debate with us and tell us Jesus real birthday was in the spring and not on December 25th. In Roman history, they wanted Jesus' birthday to coincide with the beginning of the winter solstice thus creating the day of December 25. Man has pushed aside the true meaning of Christmas by adding other "things." Now all you hear about is how great it is to have the "Christmas Magic" or how magical the Christmas holiday really is. How "all your dreams come true" if you believe in Santa or whatever they think is "magical." I'm sorry, but the only thing that is truly "magical" (if you even want to use that word) is knowing Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior and following Him every single day! In my humble opinion, that is the ONLY thing that is truly "That Christmas Magic." Sorry Hallmark Channel, nice try but keep showing all your Christmas movies that are all similar and all end the same way! JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON! I do hope you all do have fun! If you have children or Grandchildren, I truly hope you enjoy time with your family. Just don't forget what Christmas is REALLY all about!! Happy Birthday, Jesus!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!
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