The O’Neal family loves Christmas.  Teresa and I have lived in Burlington for over 15 years and for the past 7 or 8 years we’ve been involved in the typical Christmas chaos.  I have sung in quite a few “cantatas” and the kids have been in a Christmas play or two.  (Side Note:  What the heck is a cantata anyway and why would somebody off the street want to see one?)  This year is so much different.  At Pine Ridge Church, Christmas is being “exposed” in a much different way in our new church. 

I sat in today’s service and began to wonder how much I have marginalized Christmas in the past.  Not only have I fallen into the commercial traps of Christmas, but I have walked into the traps of the many planned Christmas activities that not only takes precious time away from friends and family BUT most of all it is all for show.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the Christmas season and will take any dose of holiday cheer that I can get.  I love to watch my kids participate in that kind of stuff and Big Daddy might get choked up now and again when I see it.  If someone ever reads this post, you need to pause for just minute or two and really look at what you do over the Christmas holiday.  If you say, “that is always how we have done things” OR “we have way too much going on,”  then maybe you need to take another moment or two to see how you and your family can get a little bit closer to the one who was born in the stable in the first place.