[JBTater]

Like each of the past several years, as I read about people being trampled by the masses rushing into a giant sale to get little Johnny that super special toy-de-jour that every GOOD parent will get their child this year if they really love them, I find myself growing more and more resentful of what Christmas has come to mean to this country.
(Wow, that must be one of the longest sentences ever)
Then finally, while helping decorate the house a few days ago, I took a good look at the little statue that I bought at a garage sale and realized just how much I like it. It does a great job of putting this joyous holiday back into perspective for me, so I thought I'd snap a picture and share it with everyone.
I hope you all find it as meaningful as I do.
And of course, let me remind you that you don't have to spend more money than your neighbors, or get all of the latest doo-dads, or even hang one more bulb on your house than your neighbors.
Love and enjoy your friends and family and appreciate all that they mean to you.
Merry Christmas Everyone. Or Happy Hanukkah, or whatever your preference.
Jim

 

[Guest]

AMEN

 

[MarineOpLaw]

Agree completely.

FWIW: IMHO a good starting point in DEcommercializing Christmas is in our own lives - live your life as a living testimony to others that they may see the peace you have and that those witnessing it will emulate it in hopes of securing the blessed life you enjoy.

I was amazed this year (and disappointed) when I saw Christmas articles starting to appear in the local super stores soon after Labor Day. Good grief... before you know it, they won't even put it away!

Not trying to keep up w/ the Tater household, but where can I get me one of those statues? Quite apropo! Bravo on your find!

 

[Rio_Grande]

Jim It scares me that we think so much alike, At least you decorate for christmas. We are not even puttin up a tree this year. Just hit the midnight mass, then dinner with mom and dad. Enjoy the kids (As much as I can stand) and watch the fire burn...

Believe it or not I am even off that day

And Christmas Eve.

 

[uglyjeepoffroad]

My Father in Law (a retired Methodist Minister) collects anything with the image of Santa worshipping the Christ Child. They are getting harder and harder to find, sadly.

 

[517]

The whole thing (seems to) revolves around gift giving. And people keep expanding it further with these obligatory gift exchanges at work, Christmas get togethers, etc. It takes the whole focus of Christmas off the birth of Christ and turns it into some pagen ritual designed to benefit retail stores. Sickening and pathetic.

 

[2260]

Has anyone else noticed the lack of "Christ" in all of the media and everywhere else?
Is it a crime now to say Christmas? Why must it be Holiday Season, Happy Holidays or worst of all X-mas and no reference to the real reason we are having this day?
When I left work this morning, the HR dept. was decorating the lobby. Not anywhere did I see the word Christmas, I thought that was pretty shameful.
Merry Christmas to everyone.

 

[Tippy]

This is why I hate the holiday season. My favorite part about Christmas - the day after.

 

[863]

Until this year, my last 13 years has been in various forms of mass market retail (before that I did fleet maintantence) and I truly came to hate Christmas. I was something of a jerk about it, refusing to go to family Christmas parties. The only thing I liked about Christmas was Christmas lights. Before Christmas I would walk through the toy department of the store I managed and would here little kids all over screaming "I want I want I want" or worse "I need I need I need". It was sickening to watch the extent that these children had been brainwashed by advertising campaigns and television in particular.

My own family was bad about the whole gift giving thing. Particularly my parents. I finally put a stop to the whole shebang a few years ago. I told the entire family that we would participate in gifts for the children, but no longer for the rest of the family. And if they wanted to see us for Christmas, it would be a family get together, not some big orgy of gift exchange. They agreed.....I also startled them more than a bit when I walked in with my Bible under one arm. Before dinner I did something I don't care to do because I'm usually not very good at it: I taught a Bible lesson. I taught my family, including my parents, the Christmas story straight out of the Gospel. I was more than a bit critical about the way we had celebrated Christmas previously. I fully expected to be thrown out, or at least be the subject of family animosity. To my great surprise and relief, I wasn't. Instead, somebody (usually me) reading the Bible and teaching the true story of Christmas is a part of Christmas Eve in our family.

I guess the whole point of this post is to say thank you to all of you who strive to keep Christmas true to it's purpose. I applaud you all.

 

[OIIIIIIIO]

there are other holidays this time of year besides christmas (hannukah, kwansa). some people are offended if everyone just assumes that everyone else celebrates christmas. hence happy holidays instead of merry christmas.

my brother living in NYC gets dirty looks when he walks down the street wishing eveyone merry christmas (midwest boy can't help but talk to other people walking down the street). no dirty looks when he wishes people happy holidays

patrick

 

[sourpwr]

I dislike the commercialization of ALL Holidays. You have to buy cards or gifts for everyone year round or they get upset. What's this sweetest day and when did it start anyway?

As for Christmas, several years back, when I was on the board of directors for a small town Boys and Girls Club, I realized how much money it takes run a children's charity. We never new how we would make payroll, but always did. That year I suggested to my Dad's extended family that instead of buying gifts for everyone, we make a family donation to the charity of choice. To my surprise everyone in the family latched on. We have given about $1000 to various charities in the name of our family for each of the past 3 years.

To me, Christmas should be a humbling time. A time to reflect on who you are, on the ills of society, and to make an attempt, no matter how small, to positively affect those less fortunate than me.

Mike

 

[JBTater]

In reply to:

instead of buying gifts for everyone, we make a family donation to the charity of choice

[/ QUOTE ]

Great idea, Mike!!! A lot of people need food or shelter more than I need another darn sweater I'll never wear.

In reply to:

where can I get me one of those statues?

[/ QUOTE ]

I found this one at a yard sale. I've never seen one in a store. Sorry I can't help ya find one.

In reply to:

some people are offended if everyone just assumes that everyone else celebrates christmas. hence happy holidays instead of merry christmas

[/ QUOTE ]

Happy Holidays doesn't offend me, but X-mas does. DO NOT "X" Christ out of Christmas!!!! If you don't believe, then just use Happy Holidays instead. But do not remove the meaning from the holiday and still try to celebrate it.

Ok, now lets talk politics and about our Mother-in-Laws many flaws!!!

Jim

 

[Rio_Grande]

Cool Mother in laws>>>>> I don't have to be drunk to gripe about that

 

[MarineOpLaw]

In reply to:

now lets talk politics and about our Mother-in-Laws many flaws!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

New thread or continue this one?

I'm a radically conservative, liberal independent who loves my country, and have a mother-in-law only satan himself could love.

How's that for a starter?

R/

 

[JBTater]

[whispered confession]

I actually like my Mother-in-Law.

[/whispered confession]

 

[Rio_Grande]

Oh GOd...... Jim is a woman

Next thing you are gonna say is you dont like beer Or I cant go on a run cause well,,, Mother does not think it is a good Idea

 

[uglyjeepoffroad]

Here is a link to a statue like the one listed. They have a few different styles and there were many more.
I just searched "Santa and Christ Child" in Yahoo.
Statue Link

As for the Christmas story from the Bible, it is the best there is, and it will make you think of Linus's speech in "A Charlie Brown Christmas".
Still makes me tear up, and I'm almost 30.

 

[Guest]

In reply to:
instead of buying gifts for everyone, we make a family donation to the charity of choice

Great idea, Mike!!! A lot of people need food or shelter more than I need another darn sweater I'll never wear.

A couple of years ago the kids complained we were so hard to shop for. Wife and I got all the kids together and told them to pick a name from a "giving tree" for a the needy. Shop for them and tell us about it. All 5 of our children and their families have enjoyed this. They have also learned the true meaning of giving. This year we have banded together and chosen a charity where you have to choose a family. We've banded together to choose a couple of larger families figuring they would be last chosen if at all.

 

[LEVE]

1. Skip... beware...
2. I once decided to teach my children the True meaning of Christmas .
3. I put a $5 limit on any gift buying [*]A child could spend all $5 on one gift, or[*]Spread the money to buy gifts for all family members. [*]But the limit was the limit [*]I aimed it to stick... .
4. The rest of the money that would have been spent was given to the Church,
5. For distribution as needed to the poor.
6. Christmas Eve day I was in my computer room typing away,
7. My 12 year old Daughter came into the room and said:
8. "Dad, there's a Policeman in the driveway asking for you."

9. On the way up the stairway she asked me: "What did you do? Are you going to be home for Christmas?"
10. Then she laughed...an evil laugh...

11. Well I met the Policeman... and he asked me my name.
12. I confirmed that I was he... and asked what he wanted...
13. He asked me to come to the rear of the Police Car and opened the Trunk.
14. And picked up two huge black garbage bags full of wrapped Christmas Gifts,
15. And said: "On behalf of the community, have a Merry Christmas."
16. When I recovered I told him my wife and I worked and we didn't need the help.
17. He said: "Sir, never argue with a man with a gun on Christmas Eve."
18. He walked to his Patrol Car, got in and drove off.
19. I was left holding the bag...
20. Litterly....

22. It took me 3 months to figure out what happened...

23. My 8 year old daughter was complaining "We only have $5 for Christmas" to a classmate.
24. When a teacher walked by and heard her remark,
25. And put us on the list ....
26. Well, sometimes the best laid plans often go astray...
26. So much for teaching true and correct principles,
27. It's a Christmas story in my family that will be told through the generations,
28. And we can laugh at it, now!

 

[Guest]

Here's an interesting fact: The X in the word Xmas is derived from the greek letter chi which resembles the letter X in our alphabet. The greek word for christ, which I can't write in this character set, begins with X or chi. Xmas is simply an old abreviation for Christmas that has been around for hundreds of years now, but due to the near death of the latin language, people have forgotten and thus use it often to say Christmas without involving Christ. The joke is actually on those who think that they are excluding Christ by using this term. Next time you see it you should not feel contempt for the user, rather feel amused in knowing that Christ will be with them whether they want him or not. If only my brain would retain useful knowledge rather than the useless facts that resides there...