When asked, most folks reply that it can’t possibly be Christmas time already. That time is almost upon us again. It seems as if we only put away all of the Christmas decorations from last year and now we are bringing them out again.

However, since we celebrated the first Sunday of Advent last week, we are at this special time of year again. While the secular world seems to take over this season more and more each year, I still want to make sure that the reason I love and enjoy this time of the year is to remember and celebrate the gift of salvation that God gave to us so many years ago.

Many may think that some of the ways we celebrate Christmas really do not honor the birth of Christ anymore. However, I want to digress on a few of those that I really think go forward in honoring His birth.

By giving presents to others we celebrate, not only how we feel about that person but we also remember the gifts the Wise Men brought to the Baby Jesus after His birth. Now sometimes we get carried away with the gifts we are giving, especially when we realize how much we may have spent at the holiday, still the spirit of love is shown to those who receive the gifts that we purchase or in some instances make.

I for one really enjoy using white lights to decorate the outside of our home during the Christmas holidays. Now some might think I want to compete with Clark Griswold in Christmas Vacation, but that is not my intention each year. The white lights remind me of the bright lights that came from heaven as the angels announced the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. The soft glow of the lights also brings about a sense of peace to remind me of Jesus being the Prince of Peace. The soft glow of the lights on a cold winter’s night seem to bring about a sense of happiness and will take away feelings of anxiousness about what is going on in our lives and the lives of our families.

Nothing says Christmas like the many, many manger scenes that are on display during this time of year. While the actual birth of Jesus was most likely in a cave used as a stable, and probably smelly and dirty and not what the manager scenes portray, they serve as a reminder that God came down to earth in the form of man so that he could offer love and life to all who would accept Him. One would think that even the hardest heart would be softened at this time of the year looking down at the babe in the manager.

As we move through this Christmas season, may the joy of Christmas fill every heart and may each of us be so full of that joy that without a doubt folks will know that we celebrate the Christ of Christmas.

Randy Garrison is the president and publisher of the Hartselle Enquirer.