Have your ever wondered why Christmas is such a big deal?

Rick Warren, author of “The Purpose of Christmas,” emphasized that all other holidays are celebrated only one day. Christmas, on the other hand, is the longest celebration around the world.

Most people are consumed for an entire month preparing for a birthday celebration and going to a lot of trouble to celebrate someone’s birthday that many don’t even know.

During this time of year, people put the rest of their lives on hold to decorate their houses, send cards, buy gifts with money that would be better spent on more important things and go to parties.

All this activity robs them of the peace and joy that Christmas is all about.

Christmas is a time for celebration. As Christians, we celebrate the birth of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Christmas is also a time for salvation. God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to suffer and die for us so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.

It’s a gift that will last forever and, best of all, (if we choose) it’s a gift that we can use every day.

I thank God that on the second Sunday in October, 1980, I made a decision to accept Jesus as the Lord of my life. I then realized that God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save it. He came to set us free.

Christmas is also a time for reconciliation. Reconciliation is the restoration of peace — peace with God, peace with others, peace with family and friends and, most of all, peace in our own hearts.

Some of the words of a song we hear during this time of year are: “Let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with me.” What an awesome responsibility to know that peace has to begin with me.

I pray that this Christmas Season, while we are busy preparing for the celebration, we remember whose birthday we’re celebrating.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

If you have any questions or comments, please write Harold Keller at Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084; call 985-652-8477; or e-mail hkeller@comcast.net.