Musings from Graceland

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THESE PICTURES???

In case you don't get it right away, I'll give you a hint. My handsome husband is wearing a Hawaiian shirt and I do NOT let him wear Hawaiian shirts in the cold months!

That's right....a store already has CHRISTMAS posters up in JULY!!!!!! It just ain't right!

Now don't get me wrong. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!! My husband will tell you that I can go a little crazy where that season is concerned. I love buying the tree, dropping money in the Salvation Army bucket, listening AND singing the carols, making special food, attending special church services, reading seasonal books, putting out the nativity scene, dressing in red and green, filling up boxes for Operation Shoebox, picking out Christmas cards, looking at the lights, attending parties, buying and giving gifts, and just about anything else related to the celebration that commerates the birthday of my King and Savior.

And I firmly believe that we should rejoice year round the birth and life of Jesus. His coming to earth CHANGED the world and made it possible for someone like me to have eternal peace and daily joy.

But Christmas consumerism in July just seems WRONG! Color me Grinch Green, but as much as I love the Yuletide Season, I'm really not ready to have all the "stuff" being pushed when I've still got red, white, and blue 4th of July decorations hanging from my mantle.

Tis the season to be.....SUMMER!

Yes, let's keep the Christmas message in our hearts all year long, but let's not lose the specialness of Christmas by starting it so soon that we're tired of it by November and then we miss out on the wonder and miracle of the season when it really DOES arrive in December.