From Craft Shows to Christmas

The fall craft show season and fall festival season is now upon us here in south Louisiana. I don’t know if you make it to any of the craft shows or fall festivals but they can be a fun way to spend a day with family or friends. Many have free or low cost admission for the whole day. Even if I don’t purchase anything I love getting out in the cooler weather and meeting new people. It is also good just to get out and see what others are creating. Sometimes you see some really interesting items where you take a step back, cock your head to one side and say, “What the heck is that?!”

One of the things that happens at craft shows and fairs this time of year is Christmas shopping. I know, it seems that Christmas themed decorations and music pop up earlier and earlier every year. I was at Hobby Lobby earlier this week and I asked one of the employees if they get sick of Christmas by the time it gets here. She said YES, especially since Christmas decorations start going up in late May or early June in Hobby Lobby. She said that often she just throws a tree in the corner at the last minute at her home. It is sad that we are worn out with Christmas before November even arrives.

So how do we get past this? I believe it is remembering what Christmas is truly about. It is about Jesus coming as a babe in a manger. He wasn’t just any babe, He is our Savior who chose to come as a baby and experience what we experience as humans so He can truly understand what we go through. Then He lived 33 years and some say His life was taken from him. However, that is not exactly what happened. What happened is He voluntarily gave His life for us so we can gain entrance to heaven.

We know what love is because Jesus gave his life for us. That’s why we must give our lives for each other. 1 John 3:16

This verse reminds us why He gave His life for us and also, what we must do in return ... love each other.

But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples. John 13:34-35

We can keep the true meaning of Christmas in our hearts by first, love Jesus. Then, because Jesus has done a new work in us we can love each other. Maybe if we are focusing on loving Jesus and each other we can help combat the commercialism of Christmas. We may not win the battle as one person but we change our own little world one act of love at a time.

Toodles for now,
Cindy