after much deliberation, i think i've finally decided that i like christmas. i hate the crowds, the stupid music (it's especially grating when you have to listen to the same ten songs on repeat for five plus hours every day five days a week), the greed and materialism, the commercialism of the holiday...

i do like the christmas carols, the christmas movies (charlie brown!), the holiday spirit that seems to permeate most people, the emphasis on family... and of course i love gifts. i love finding just the right thing for that certain person, and watching them unwrap my surprise.

before all this deliberation, i had a very cynical attitude about christmas. i was annoyed at the materialism, the commercialism, the stupid music, the crowds... i especially hated the way people tried to steer away from the real reason for christmas with their dumb 'happy holidays' instead of merry christmas.

and don't get me wrong; those things still do bother me. a lot. but i've learned to focus on the real meaning of christmas. i suppose (and this is ironic) those stupid christmas songs i've been forced to listen to for hours on end have actually made me stop and think about what it's all about.

you know all those great lines: "come and behold him, born the king of angels" and "hark, the herald angels sing! glory to the new born king..." well, they just got to me and made me think, that's what it's all about. and i could just sit back and relax in that newly acquired knowledge.

it's okay that christmas has become what it is, because it's still about Christ coming to earth for the express purpose of dying for our sins. the world can try and cover it up, but i think we all know what it's about. it's too great and wonderful a truth to be covered up so easily.

so, kids, MERRY CHRISTMAS!