T’was the night before Christmas, while people were shopping, ignoring what this day was all about. Pushing and shoving to get into department stores, I wonder when church opens; they would bombard the door.

Jesus was replaced with a man in a red suit, commercializing and capitalizing on the holiday spirit, convincing us to spend money to buy the perfect gift for everyone on our lists. What about the boy or girl who is not fortunate enough to experience the joy of receiving gifts, whose families struggle to put food on the table during this season? The joy of Jesus, which should be a source of true happiness and peace, wasn’t deemed joyous enough for the celebration, so whimsical reindeers and lavish decorations were added to the mix to appeal to our material desires. It’s truly sad to see how God is not praised on this day, as we distract ourselves with shopping and festivities, forgetting how He blessed us with His Son to take our sins away, offering us the ultimate gift of grace and salvation, a gift that transcends all material possessions.

Remember the reason why we celebrate Christmas Day as you pass your gifts, give God the praise.