Right now, we're right in the big middle of the holiday season. Seems like it was just August, not long ago. Of course, here in the S.E. part of Texas (Houston area), it doesn't seem like it's winter time. Granted, we do have some cold days. But they're usually followed by a 70 or 80 degree day. And snow/ice, very rare... According to your opinion, that can be good or bad. I do know they had snow in "Galveston" & some parts of Houston a few years ago. And that made the T.V. news. Funny thing about that, I was in Michigan at the time visiting family & it was 55 degrees (A heat wave for those who aren't acquainted with the northern part of the U.S. in the winter time). My father in law just laughed, knowing how much of a southern lady I am when it comes to weather. I was raised in S.E. Oklahoma but it's pretty much the weather of Dallas-Ft. Worth. So, this was pretty humorous to him.
 

Anyways, thinking about the holidays coming up, I have sung my song "Keep Christ In Christmas" several times (since October). Hoping that people will remember the message that's in the song as they're going about their holiday preparation & etc... Several times I've been inside the stores & I've had cashiers tell me "Happy Holiday" and "Season's Greetings". I immediately turn around & tell them "Merry Christmas to you as well" (Hoping they'll get the hint). I keep hearing about these buttons that say "It's okay to tell me Merry Christmas" & I don't know of a place where I can buy it where I'll get it before Christmas. Also, I see the bumper stickers that say "Keep Christ In Christmas" with a manager scene in the middle of it in white. How appropriate it would be to have that on my car (since I wrote a song about it). I hate to admit it but it drives me crazy to see people/retailers purposely trying to take Christ out of Christmas. They try to make it where they're trying to be politically correct as to not offend their customers. How about all the Christians that spend their hard earned dollar at stores? And there's even people who aren't Christians that believe that "Merry Christmas" is a tradition. And it should be kept within the holiday.  My interpretation is that if they take "Christ" out of Christmas, that they've made it a holiday that's "In it for me" instead of it being "About Jesus" (And what can we do to be more like him and show goodwill toward our fellow man/woman). 

I'm not perfect nor do I claim to be. But I do know that God gave the precious gift of his son, Jesus. And what earthly gift could even come close to that?  I do believe that if Christians sit back & say nothing- (Praise the Lord for Amer. Family Association & Organ. the take a stand for Religious Freedom in a proactive political, loving way) not only will people be able to get away with taking Christ out of Christmas. But one by one, our religious freedoms will be taken away in America. I know it probably sounds like I'm making a mountain out of a molehill to some of you. But it starts small with things like this. And just gets bigger. So, it is something to think about & pray about what we can do to be a light to the local retailer, the community around us as well as to the world.

So, when you're out there doing your Christmas shopping or traveling wherever your errands may take you, remember to show "Jesus" to those around you (especially when people are really rude whether it's in a shopping mall, local restaurant, or even in traffic). They'll be able to see the spirit of Christmas (Jesus) inside you. By the way, Don't be afraid to say "Merry Christmas" as we want to remind people the "True Reason For the Season".

In Christ,

"Tawana"-Christian Artist/Songwriter
T.J. Albert Productions; Spring/Houston, TX
www.Tawana.org
www.Mychurch.org/Tawana
www.Shoutlife.com/Tawana
www.Indieheaven.com/artists/Tawana
www.Thespiritradio.net/Tawana
www.Outboudmusic.com/Tawana