It's that time of year again: work is winding down, the days are getting hotter and South Africans everywhere are attempting to turn our sunny summer country into a green and red winter wonderland.
Isn't it all just wonderful?
Apparently not. In the last week, I haven't gone a day without hearing someone moan about the commercialization of Christmas. With a lot of head-shaking and tut-tutting, we are urged to tear down all our Christmas decorations, stop playing Christmas carols in shops and take this holy day seriously, dammit!
To these moral compasses I say, have a Christmas cookie.
I LOVE this time of year. I would even go so far as to say I love the commercialization of Christmas, because it means it's everywhere: in the shops, in the newspapers, on the radio, on the TV, in the movies. For a month or two, the world is infested with Christmas trees, tinsel, shiny baubles, brightly wrapped presents, enormous Christmas dinners with family, charity drives that help spread the joy, and so much JOY. I especially love that.
Why would you want to rain on this big, beautiful Christmas parade?
Understand that I am a Christian. I believe that Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, but it's such a happy event we're celebrating, why wouldn't we want to throw a big, colourful, noisy party and invite everyone?
By the way, everyone is invited.
If Christmas is about Jesus, then it is also about love and grace that is for all of us. If you understand that, you at least understand something of God, whether you believe in Him or not. If you understand that, you should celebrate Christmas.
I get that people worry about the real meaning of Christmas getting lost between all of the sparkles and gifts, but then don't get rid of the pretty stuff - add some more pretty stuff. Give generously to charity (my favourite is the Santa Shoebox project - www.santashoebox.co.za), tell a stranger how much God loves her or him, throw your friends a Christmas party, or bake your colleagues holiday cookies. It is, after all, the season of giving.
Like I said, I love the joy of Christmas. The world could use some of it. So let's all come joyfully and triumphantly and rejoice in Christmas trees and shiny decorations and carols and beautifully wrapped presents and holiday feasts and friends and family and generosity and love and grace and in the Baby Boy who started it all.
Make merry!
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