"For unto us a child is born."

                                  Isaiah 9:6

 

It’s amazing how different people view Christmas. A Midwest college recently took to the streets for a survey, and it turned out almost exactly as predicted.

 

They chose to go to two places to ask people the same question:“Who are the most famous characters of Christmas?” The first place was the mall on a Saturday during the height of the shopping season and the answers were predictable.

1.     Santa Claus

2.     Rudolph

3.     Frosty

4.     Scrooge

5.     The Grinch

 

The next day, a Sunday, they moved their study outside a church as it was dismissed from its morning service. Again, the answers were predictable.

1.     The Baby Jesus

2.     Mary & Joseph

3.     Wise Men

4.     Shepherds

5.     The Innkeeper

 

Now, while some may say the methodology was faulty (shopping at a mall on a Saturday and coming out of a church on Sunday), the study did reflect the focus most people have at Christmas. Six days a week, it’s the cultural Christmas. The commercialized Christmas. The material Christmas.

 

But on one day, it is the only true reason we celebrate at all.

 

I wonder what would happen in the world . . . if that trend reversed?  Just something to think about.

 

"Father, Help us to remember the reason we celebrate during this season.  In Jesus' name, AMEN."

 

Christmas Bonus:

A poem by Clement Moore entitled “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (which came to be known as “Twas the Night Before Christmas”)  introduced us to Santa’s reindeer. Their names were Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Duner, and Blizem. Duner and Blizem are German words for thunder and lightning, so eventually the names were changed to Donder (not Donna or Donner) and Blitzen.