Santamas

I posted a status about a leetle itty bit of my thoughts on this the other day. But, it WAS a leetle itty bit. And I want to elaborate. And, like a lot of my posts tend to be, it may not be particularly organized. Because to me, a blog is a thought bin. Where I toss in all my thoughts. You're fully welcome to organize then and put them together as you wish.. although taking things that I (or anyone else, for that matter) say out of context probably isn't the best idea and could get people hurt and in trouble with their friends.  Or not friends. Whichever. DON'T TWIST PEOPLE's WORDS! It's not nice.  Anywhoosen (hey, I miss random words like that. College forces me to use real ones.. lame. ;)) Here we go.

Santamas.
Doesn't this look odd to some of you?  Is that even a word?  It could be.  And I think to a lot of people it is, though they might not admit it.  Compare:

Santamas                                    Christmas

See it now? One of these things is not like the other... It's the NAMEs. Notice the name in the more familiar word. Christ.  And the other one?  Santa.  Sadly enough, much of the world chooses the latter over the former.  Santamas.  That just doesn't have the same ring and happiness to it that Christmas does.  And guess what?  There's a reason why.
Here's Christmas to much of the world:
Buying presents.
Organizing parties.
Stress for the hosts.
Feelings of discouragement for those who can't give as much as their heart wants to.
Silent (or not so silent) competitions between family and friends about who got, or gave, the best gift.
Getting.
Horrendous amounts of planning.
Stress.
Lots of food making.
An excuse to eat an excess amount of sweets.
Gift wrapping.
Competitions for who has the best Christmas lights and decor.
Making sure to go see Santa and tell him what you want.
Stress.
Fatigue.
Some even hate the holiday season.  Because it's turned into something they can't handle.  It's too stressful and some wish it would just end already!

This is very very sad to me.  This is Santamas.  And while not all of the things on here are bad, the spirit of Santamas isn't exactly a joyful one.
 
Christmas.

Joy.
Bringing families together.
Enjoying the happy faces of a Loved one when they open a present they really really like.
Laughing together.
Remembering past Christmases.
Singing Christmas music.
Cooking together.
Helping those who have taken on the huge task of being in charge of the family's holiday season.
Creating happy memories.
Encouraging family traditions.
Loving.
Letting go of grudges and fixing rifts.
Celebrating.
And, most importantly, remembering the person whom this incredibly important holiday is named after.  Remembering the reason we celebrate, the reason we give, Love, and enjoy this season.  Christ.  It's CHRISTmas!  This is why I Love it.  It's a reminder, and a huge one at that, to be as Christlike as possible.  Why?  Because the Love of Christ creates the holiday spirit.
Woah.  Epiphany.
Let me say that again.

The Love of Christ CREATES the holiday spirit.

Christ's Love is what I think of when I try to describe how I feel during the holidays.  That joyful, excited, giggle-making, feeling that makes the children jump of the walls and seems to encourage people to fall in Love.  It's the Love of Christ.  It powers the holiday spirit.  Take a minute to think about that, because I JUST pieced that together myself.. and I need a minute to process it too.


Woah.


****



Have you sufficiently thought about it?  Do you get it?  Isn't it amazing!? 

:D
So, most people celebrate a combination of Christmas and Santamas.  That's fine.  But I personally want to focus a little more on Christmas this year, and I invite and encourage the same from all of you.  Why?  Because Christ's Love is the thing that makes the holiday spirit go.  Try not to stress.  Let the Love of Christ fuel your holidays.  And for those of you who aren't in charge of the planning, try to help those who are as much as you can.  Showing that Love to them will make the holiday season that much more memorable and happy for both of you.  I Love this season because of the feeling it creates.  Don't you?  And now I know what creates that feeling.

Let's celebrate Christmas this year.  Who's with me?? :)

I Love you all.  Merry Christmas.  Let it be full of the Loving care of Jesus Christ.
<3 Kels