Christmas Day is here! Remember back with me to your first memories of Christmas. Here are a few of mine: roaring fire in the fireplace, gifts (more importantly the anticipation of receiving the gifts), decorative lights, Christmas trees, my mamaw's famous rice dressing on Christmas Eve, and the annual Christmas musical our church used to put on. My list is longer but I won’t bore you any longer.

I’d be willing to bet many of your memories would be similar-so many of them tied to your experiences as a child. While there is nothing wrong with these experiences, they can distract us from the real reason we celebrate this day.

I think the pageantry and commercialization of Christmas in our culture has taken the true meaning and watered it down. I often feel like Santa and Rudolph get more attention than the reason we truly celebrate-the birth of Jesus Christ. I’m not here to bad mouth Santa or any other Christmas traditions. I’m merely here to remind us today that among the gifts, good food, and joyous family gatherings we should celebrate with the birth of Christ at the forefront. He is the reason we give gifts, he has provided us with food and the blessings of family. His entry into this world led to eternal life for us.

So enjoy the day with your families, eat good food, and open presents around the Christmas tree, but let us remember why we celebrate this day and be thankful for the gift of Jesus first and foremost!