So it is Christmas

I'm watching a segment on Nightline about a man that preaches against consumerism at Christmas. He's pretty flamboyant, but I think he has a great point. We have allowed the merchants and businesses to hijack Christmas. First they took the gentle art of gift giving to an all out orgy of buying. There is a bigger diamond, a newer tech-toy, a cooler set of clothing. Then they took Christ out of the holiday. Non-christians have pressured businesses to remove any christian themes, leaving us with Santa Claus and snowmen. I was thrilled to see an ad by Sanderson farms that actually used the song 'Noel', and even had a bold "Merry Christmas" at the end. While it is still advertising, at least they aren't allowing political/social correctness to keep them from acknowledging what we all know- Christmas is about Christ, and gratitude.

I am all for including other holidays in our gratitude and acknowledgement, but let's don't leave out Christ, please. We are a Christian nation, founded on Judeo/Christian values, and I'm sick of having that removed from our public conscousness. I would never try to force my religion on another person, but I don't want religion taken out of the identity of this nation. Let's all respect one another's beliefs, and be tolerant of ideas that are different from our own. Respectful, but we shouldn't abandon our heritage out of pressure.

My hope for each of us, as we plunge into the Christmas season, is that we will each take time every day to express gratitude for our blessings. I hope and pray that each of us can remember why we celebrate this season, and not let the media blitz and advertising frenzy take away from our peace and joy. LET'S TAKE THIS HOLIDAY BACK! We do not have to be all things to all people, and there are other ways to express our love and gratitude than just with money or lavish gifts. Now, if I can only follow my own advice...

So You Think You're Tough

Yeah, I think I'm tough, heck, I had 2 heart surgeries this past summer, and could crack jokes right out of surgery. I drug tubes around for days after each one, feeling the pain every time I moved. I think I'm 10 foot tall and bullet-proof sometimes.

And then, I talked to my Uncle Gerald. He's 79 years old, a rancher. Works every day, no big deal. He calls to check up on me, and eventually tells me about his week. He was working cows with a couple 'kids', when a cow runs over him. He struggled to get up, had the guys get a knee brace out of his truck. His words- "I tried to use the brace, but my leg kept floppin' around, so I had the guys put a make-shift splint on it. Then we went back to work, spent hours working cows, finally finished and I went on to feed the 200 calves by the house."

After his daughter saw his leg, she made him go to the doctor the next day. No big deal, just a broken ankle and leg! The Urgent Care doctor sent him to a specialist about his knee. Well, he told him that the knee was shredded, there was no way to do surgery on it. After the Dr. heard the story, he told the office-"This guy is 79, has the body of a 50 year old, but acts like he's 30!

Quick question, wonder what it would have looked like if he'd quit working cows to go to the doctor? Wait, not gonna happen, he's a cowboy!