A Christmas Question

The Christmas tree is up, the manger scene is on display, the 25 day countdown paper chains have been constructed, the chocolates in the advent calendars are being consumed...We're in full Christmas swing around here.

I've never had a problem with the fun parts of Christmas. I grew up visiting Santa and always got at least one gift I'd been coveting. But now that I'm setting the expectation for and concerned about the hearts of my own kids, my question is this: Is it possible to buy into the commercialism of Christmas and still get the real message -- the BIG message -- across?

Oh sure, they know it's Jesus' birthday (we even bake a cake!). But do they really get it? When we talk about Christmas and what they're looking forward to Jesus makes the list, but their real excitement lies around the gifts and the tree and the lights.

Seems pretty sad when we're talking about the Saviour of the world. The Mighty God. The Prince of Peace. He just kind of gets lost in the hulabaloo. Makes me think we should skip the hulabaloo and focus on the King. Really focus on Him. I mean unadulterated, completely saturated in, undivided attention on, focus.

Culturally impossible, I know. We don't live in a bubble. They'd be social outcasts! They'd be deprived! They'd grow bitter! But what about the heart? The true heart. Can we really have it both ways? Something to think about...