MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Marc loves to tell a story about when his brother Joseph was in high school. Joseph went to visit a friend and the father of that friend was hanging Christmas lights. Apparently annoyed, Joseph wished the man a "Merry Christmas!" The man's reply was "Merry Christmas. I am spreading Christmas frickin' Cheer. Merry Frickin' Christmas!" I think it is a funny story, mostly because I can picture it. I realize that there are traditions and customs that we follow at Christmas time. I think we can let the carrying out of those traditions rob from the original purpose of those traditions.
During a holiday dedicated to the most charitable person in all of mankind, our Savior Himself, should we be running around so crazy that we are too tired or stressed to be courteous to our fellow man, or worse, our own family?! Do you think he would want us to take the next six months paying off the "Joys of the Holidays" because we couldn't just simplify. Why do we feel the need to overcomplicate things?
Christmas really is a simple holiday, even if you do include Santa. We celebrate the "birthday of Jesus" as Sergio likes to say. We give gifts because "Heavenly Father gives us gifts" answers Giovanni. The whole point of this holiday is to celebrate the greatest love of all time. To remember that if it weren't for Jesus Christ, we would have no purpose and no hope.
After we put the boys to bed tonight, both boys suddenly called out for us. I just assumed it was the first of many on such an exciting night. They just wanted to remind us to put out the plate of cookies for Santa, and to not forget the carrot for the reindeer. I sadly told them that I didn't have a carrot, but could put out extra cookies. Giovanni, after thinking a bit, said, "You can put an apple. Horses like apples, I bet reindeer do too." I thought that was smart and started to close the door, Giovanni again called out that I should include a note to Santa. I was a bit annoyed because he has already made a couple of lists and I was beginning to worry that he had missed the point of the holiday. He then told me that I needed to write a thank you note to Santa to thank him for coming and bringing us our nice presents.
I was so relieved. That is really what this season is about, especially if you count Thanksgiving. We have a great opportunity to be grateful. To remember all of our blessings and truly thank God for them.
So Merry Frickin' Christmas. I hope it was simple and peaceful...