Just another day
I'm not gonna let this Christmas thing go. I mean that. You shouldn't either.
I know a little bit about what the world looks like with no Christmas because I had the good fortune(?) to spend a Christmas Day in a place where Christmas doesn't exist. I was in a place where lots of things don't exist, like religious freedom, freedom of speech, and a lot of what we as Americans take for granted.
Here were the rules for celebrating Christmas: Small decorations were allowed but could not be viewed from a window. No large gatherings for religious ceremony. Small groups OK, but only at the compound and only small groups. No liquor. Period.
Christmas Day, 1990 was spent in Saudi Arabia. At the compound that housed American contractors. We had a special meal. It was called a special meal, not a holiday meal. Other than that, it was just another day. It came and went without carols, snow, hymns and songs about Jesus. It was just another day.
As you ponder your holiday traditions tomorrow and the next day, I hope you think about this. Among the things too numerous to count, without Christ, tomorrow is December 24th and Wednesday is December 25th. No Christmas Eve; no Christmas. They're just another day.
I know a little bit about what the world looks like with no Christmas because I had the good fortune(?) to spend a Christmas Day in a place where Christmas doesn't exist. I was in a place where lots of things don't exist, like religious freedom, freedom of speech, and a lot of what we as Americans take for granted.
Here were the rules for celebrating Christmas: Small decorations were allowed but could not be viewed from a window. No large gatherings for religious ceremony. Small groups OK, but only at the compound and only small groups. No liquor. Period.
Christmas Day, 1990 was spent in Saudi Arabia. At the compound that housed American contractors. We had a special meal. It was called a special meal, not a holiday meal. Other than that, it was just another day. It came and went without carols, snow, hymns and songs about Jesus. It was just another day.
As you ponder your holiday traditions tomorrow and the next day, I hope you think about this. Among the things too numerous to count, without Christ, tomorrow is December 24th and Wednesday is December 25th. No Christmas Eve; no Christmas. They're just another day.
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