“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
A gift of freedom from the chains of pagan tradition has been passed down to our children. This gift is far superior to anything they ever found under a tree.
We ceased to observe Christmas exactly 20 years ago. It was impossible to convince our family and friends that our reasons for taking this step were correct. Our children feigned understanding, putting on a brave front, but heartsick in secret. We didn’t make the yearly pilgrimage to celebrate with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, as in former times. We didn’t give or receive presents. It was a very difficult thing to do — not observing Christmas.
So many years have passed…. Now, when the annual Saturnalia celebration rolls around, we, along with our grown children, take little notice. The pain of separation is gone. Not one of us believes we have sacrificed anything of significance. Instead, we feel as though we’ve been set free — free from the financial and emotional stress this season brings. We are not burdened with unwanted and unneeded stuff nor are we in debt from purchasing things that others neither need nor want. We experience no pre-season anxiety or post-season depression.
We have been freed from time constraints and societal pressure to do so much — sending myriads of cards, baking mounds of cookies, and wrapping endless presents — before the sun sets on Dec. 24. We have no long lists of items to purchase, lights to put up and take down, ornaments to pack and unpack, tinsel to disperse and later vacuum up, or branches to decorate and dispose of when dehydrated — all in the name of a fallacy. The truth about X-mas has set us free.
by: Debbie Reed
