Not doing Christmas

All I have heard for the past month is "I/We aren't doing Christmas this year." Not doing Christmas? What does that even mean? You are just going to leave the country? Oh wait, Christmas is EVERYWHERE!!! I notice people don't say "we are not doing Thanksgiving, Easter, or Halloween." Let me guess. Those holidays are about YOU. About EATING. About little, if any, effort!! Christmas involves giving. And I know, before you even think it, it is or SHOULD BE about the birth of our Saviour. I get that. I celebrate that. But Jesus was OUR gift. A gift to the world. How do you just say, "I'm not doing that?" I know that economically things are tough and they are at the Shelton household as well. But this bitter, cynical attitude about Christmas? That is not a money issue. That is a selfish issue. (Gospel according to Shelton). My husband has never liked Christmas but his is a MAN issue. Shopping? Are you kidding me? The Christmas fairy does all of his shopping and wraps and labels stuff and he just sits back and receives the "thank-yous." OOPS, now I am sounding bitter. And I am not. We are DOING Christmas this year. And it won't be on a grand scale because the economy IS bad. But we will "do it" just the same because we love to give at my house. Because the economy was pretty rough on Joseph and Mary (couldn't really afford a motel) but God DID Christmas anyway. He didn't wait for a better place to come open to give us His gift. Because this is and should be a joyous time. Why is everyone so angry? Why is everyone so anti-Christmas this year. I am particularly amazed at my friends that say "this year we are going to truly celebrate the reason for the season". Haven't you been doing that all along? Do gifts prevent you from doing that? Or the ones that say "we are going to make memories this year" or "not waste money on a bunch of crap". Well memories aren't made, they happen. And I bet no one has ever actually bought crap. Where do you go to get that anyway? I just spoke to one too many people this week that had this whole anti-Christmas attitude and it made me feel guilty for buying gifts (which are within my budget I might add) and for singing carols and looking forward to time spent with family and friends. So, yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and you can find him at my house Christmas morning, along with the food, the presents, the memories and oh yeah....the crap!! Merry Christmas and to all a "LIGHTEN UP!!"