We often complain about how commercialized the Christmas season has become. Yet with our busy schedules and our complex lives many of us help to make it so.

Celebrating Christmas doesn't require the commercializing of the season. In our society, businesses will jump on just about anything to make a sale. That's understandable. But Christian believers need no need money to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Christmas Traditions

Every Christian family has their own Christmas traditions -- and that's good. As caring parents we create for our children the family memories they will keep forever. We help to create the feelings of home that will influence the homes that our children and grandchildren will create later on.

My wife and I prefer the singing of hymns and carols to the constant playing of recorded music. Every Christian family should have a hymn book or even several books of songs that the whole family can sing together at various times of the week, and especially during special seasons. You don't need a piano or other instrument. Nothing is so wonderful to hear as the voices of your own family and friends singing together.

If a family chooses to have a tree, then the whole family should participate in finding and decorating the tree. You might also consider planting a special tree in your own yard to decorate each year, or even having a smaller tree in a pot that can be kept inside.

Money is not love.

Who needs money or department stores? The giving of gifts is always better when the gifts are created by the giver. A ideal gift is an expression of love and thought. And I think more love and thought goes into making something of value (but not necessarily expensive) for another person.

Real life is not contained in plastic, glass, shaped wood or electronics. Life and love are demonstrated by the things we do out of love. Yet even lifeless plastic or steel can become an expression of the lives and hearts we've offered to another -- when we've assembled or manufactured the item ourselves.

The very best Christmas celebration is time itself.

The time spent with loved ones, listening to them and laughing with them -- or even crying if that's the case -- creates memories that will remain and nurture. Want to express your love? Be present as a vital part of someone's life. Eat a meal with them, spend a day with them, take a walk with them, play a game with them.

Giving the very best.

We can celebrate the birth of Jesus by sharing the Christmas story with family and friends, by helping the children to act out the story, interacting with the adults in the home or group. Not everyone gathered is a Christian believer? Christians are not the only ones who seek hope and joy during the Christmas season. Jesus Christ is for everyone who has a thirst for God's peace.

Why spend money? Share you own face. Give your genuine smile, your own presence, your words of love and encouragement. Share you voice, your feelings, your memories, and your hopes for the future. Share your dreams, and give others the opportunity to share their dreams with you.

Love the people around you. Share you heart.

Be the gift that will make someone's Christmas special this year. Cash and credit cards, department stores and frustrated crowds of shoppers are not needed for this kind of celebrating.

Jim