christmas eve

on this eve of the birth of jesus
it brings me back to the first christmas
and why we celebrate christmas in the first place

some recent conversations have really made me contemplate why so many people celebrate christmas when they don't even believe in God
but then i see what christmas has become and realize most people probably don't know what the season is even about

it irritates me how the whole season has become so much about consumerism
and how much money the stores can make
and how much money people can spend and go in debt
and how much we shouldn't use "christ" as we might offend someone

i'm fairly sure that's not what He had in mind that first christmas
but instead, it should be a time to remember the ultimate gift we were given - a baby
and what he did for us
and to think about the people we love
and somehow give them a small token
to let them know how much we care about them, too

it doesn't matter how much you spend
or if you get the hottest item
but that you spend quality time with the ones you love
and love the one that is the reason for the season