By Mark Azzara
Dear Friend,
OK, OK, I get it. Christmas is an irresistible marketing gambit. But yesterday’s mail contained a totally unexpected packet. It was filled with Christmas cards, sent by a Christian charity. Christmas cards. In September.
The charity is offering these Christ-centered cards because it wants to “keep Christ in Christmas.” But Christmas cards in September is a great way to take Christ out of Christmas because this charity is behaving like money-grubbing retailers, some of which already have Christmas trees on display.
I’m thinking of writing a polite note asking what’s up with Christmas cards in September! I will give them a chance to explain. They deserve that. If they feel like apologizing that would be fine, too. But I haven’t even started to think about the Christmas holiday yet because it’s not time.
In a way Christmas comes every day because it’s the day when Christ came into the world. In that sense I should celebrate today because Christ is a part of my life today. I want Him to be. I invite Him to be.
But He and I have a lot of other things to deal with today. Christmas cards can wait – until Christmastime.
All God’s blessings – Mark
