My 6 year old son asked me this morning if some people we knew celebrated Hanukkah.  I asked why he wondered that.  He replied that they don't believe in Jesus, so they don't celebrate Christmas.   I told him that many people still celebrate Christmas even though they don't believe in Jesus.   He didn't quite understand why they would celebrate it, because we've taught him that Christmas is Jesus' birthday.  We've taught him that Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas.   Christmas does not exist so that we can get gifts or go to Christmas parties, but to celebrate His birth.  Christmas wasn't always so commercialized and centered around Santa Claus.   Yes, we do Santa at our house, but Santa is so not the point.   

Santa gives our boys one present and we give them 3 presents.   Baby Jesus was given 3 presents, so that is why we give them 3.   We are so blessed in this country compared to others and our boys lack for nothing, so we see no point in giving them piles of gifts.

We're starting to teach our boys (6 & 3) that it is better to give than to receive.   How do you celebrate Christmas?   Why do you celebrate Christmas?

Here's a great video of Ronald Reagan giving a Christmas address to our nation.    What if our country returned to this type of thinking and message from the White House?  Oh, how far we have drifted.

Merry Christmas!