Prep and Landing

A couple of years ago this new Christmas special came out called "Prep and Landing."  It is an awesome 30 minute cartoon about the elves that go to each girl and boy's house before Santa arrives to "prep" it for him.  Crazy things happen along the way and one of the elves doesn't get a promotion he wanted so he is doesn't take the job seriously.  A storm comes and because the elf is not paying attention to what he is doing, Santa is going to miss the house they are working on.

A new elf that is so excited to be on the "Prep and Landing" team helps the other elf realize just how important their job so he helps to make sure Santa gets there for Christmas.  It has some really funny parts but the main focus is on what all goes into getting ready for Christmas.

This made me start to think about what we do to "Prep" for Christmas.  After Thanksgiving, (hopefully) you put your tree up and decorate the house.  You start to buy gifts for your friends and family.  You bake cookies and sing Christmas Carols.  You listen to holiday music, wear festive sweaters, and watch Christmas Movies.  You wrap those presents and buy Candy canes.  You go to Christmas parties and make homemade ornaments with the kids.  You spend time with family and see relatives you haven't seen in a long time.  There are so many things you do to "Prep" yourself for the holidays. 

However,  I think that we spend too much time "Prepping" for the wrong way to celebrate Christmas.  Don't get me wrong, I love everything about the secular holiday of Christmas.  I love presents and movies and the spirit that it brings out in people, but too many people overlook the true meaning of Christmas.  They have a tendency to get so wrapped up in everything that they forget to celebrate Jesus' birthday.  They forget to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.  Why is that?  Why do we spend so much time on Christmas but so little time on Christ-mas? 

I think you should "Prep" differently this year.  Instead of buying so many toys for each other, buy a birthday present for Jesus.  Give to your Church.  Be Christ like in your actions and feed the hungry, give to the organizations that support the homeless, put some money in Santa Claus' bucket in front of Walmart.  Take an angel from the tree at Church and buy a gift for a child in need.  Attend the choir's Christmas concert so that you can worship by the sound of music.  Go see the Christmas play put on by the children of the church.  Attend worship on Christmas Eve and this year on Christmas Day.  Enjoy that time together as a family.  Pray over Christmas dinner and be thankful for the birth of the one who died for your sins.

It's time to "Prep" for Christmas properly.  Don't forget to do that because if you "Prep" and spend all the time on the other type of Christmas celebration then you might want to watch out for that "Landing."  I'm just saying...