The Santa who Stole Christmas

There he go again! I'm talking about Santa. This guy is slick; he can separate you from your money before you can say the words "Red Tag Sale." He only shows up on December 25th, the day after you have spent your tithe, rent money, and utility bill money to buy gifts that won't even last. Why is it that we get suckered each year. Don't we realize that the expense for Christmas was bought and paid for over 2000 years ago; don't we realize that Christmas isn't about what we can buy, but what's already paid for. There is a big difference between Santa and Jesus. With Santa, Christmas is about us and what we want; with Jesus, it about Him and how much He loves us; God so loved the world that he freely gave us the most precious Gift in His son-the chance of Eternal Life! It's okay to express your love and affection for important people in your life with gifts and cards, but it's not okay to feel obligated to spend what you don't have or don't want to spend in order justify yourself during the holidays. If you're buying gifts to justify yourself-that is the spirit of Santa. But if you're buying gifts simply because you want to bless others with no strings attached and won't need to break your piggy bank to do it-that's the Spirit Christmas!