As we progress through December, many people find themselves caught up in gift buying, tree decorating, present wrapping, and the stress that can sometimes accompany the holiday season. However, it’s important for us to step back and recognize that these things aren’t worth stressing over, for they aren’t what Christmas is all about anyways. We tend to get so wrapped up in the commercialized aspect of the holidays that we seem to forget what it is we are celebrating, and I pray that we all take the time to genuinely reflect on the true meaning of Christmas this December.

We are all sinners, whether we like to admit it or not. We make mistakes that hurt both others and ourselves, and we do things we shouldn’t each and every day. However, despite our wrongdoings God still loved us enough to save us from our sins through Jesus, which makes His birth a pretty big deal. While it is okay to enjoy the gifts and decorations that accompany the holidays, we shouldn’t let these things cause us to lose focus of what is truly important. So, this December I pray that we don’t allow ourselves to be consumed by the Christmas traditions that we take part in each year, but instead spend this December focused on our faith and our love for the friends and family that surround us as we take the time to remember what Christmas is all about.