Okay, NOW it’s December. NOW I’m more ready to think about Christmas. The confusing thing is, all the Christmas decorations in the stores have been up since…what?…Labor Day? I’m picturing myself eventually doing my 4th of July picnic shopping and my Christmas shopping at the same time. It gets earlier every year, doesn’t it? I’ve been experiencing some major season confusion for months.

Does it really help that these days we have some sort of “holly-jolly harvest”? Didn’t I see a snowman made out of pumpkins last month? Now that’s just weird. In the stores they seem to go straight from Fourth of July fireworks to chestnuts roasting on an open fire–all in one big bang. Let’s hope we don’t get THOSE mixed up. Fireworks roasting on an open fire would give us a whole new chestnut POP.

Do you ever worry that the heart of Christmas is all too easily lost in the confusion of the season, too? Let’s not let our Jesus-focus get confused in the holiday busyness. Keeping the guest of honor at the center of his birthday celebration is the way to make sure the season is a blessing to Christ and gloriously satisfying for everyone around. Much more satisfying and gratifying, for instance, than decorating the Memorial Day tree.

Rhonda Rhea rrhea@juno.com