"Christmas in July" Should Be Banned
"Christmas in July" annoys me. Thankfully, it only shows up in cheesy sales promotions and gimmicky Television programming marathons.
Last week I stretched out on the couch ready to relax a little and watch some TV. When I accessed the guide, I noticed that the Hallmark channel was showing a non- stop Christmas movie marathon.
I gagged.
I apologize if anything remotely Christmas related is enjoyable for you at this time of year, but for me, it's like trying to wear a heavy sweater into a sauna.
If I sat around watching Mrs. Miracle, Elf, and Midnight Santa, it would ruin real Christmas for me. Christmas is special because it's seasonal. All the enjoyable things about Christmas- brisk weather, hot chocolate, special cookies, and cozy blankets - just don't work in July. Christmas is only supposed to come once a year. That's what makes it something magical to savor. When we start celebrating "Christmas in July," the specialness gets sucked out.
"Christmas in July" feels like being taunted by a bully. If you watch one of those movies, you'll be reminded of all the excellent things about the Christmas season. Then you'll get smacked with the reality that it's still SIX MONTHS AWAY! Plus, you'll be forgetting about all the crummy things about winter: icy roads, breaking the ice in your dog's water, and the sun setting at five o'clock.
Why can't we just embrace the fact that it's July? Sure it's miserably hot and humid out there, but the sun is shining. We can go to the beach, and don't forget about all those awesome fireworks.
When I started examining why the "Christmas in July" concept bothers me so much, I realized part of it is because all the Christmas holiday programming shown on TV is probably just an excuse to get more mileage out of the shows a network has purchased. It really is all about the $$$. Also, the one movie that I wouldn't mind seeing in July is never a part of these unseasonal festivals.
It's a Wonderful Life never gets shown unless it's actually Christmas time, which is a shame because although it is a Christmas movie, it isn't just about Christmas. It's about life. I think the reason it's hung around so long (It was made in 1946.) is because it addresses something universally human.
It seems like we're all like George Bailey. We get frustrated and wonder if the tiny contributions we're making really matter in the bigger picture. Unfortunately the rest of us don't have an angel named Clarence who will come along and show us how the world would be if we'd never lived. Instead we have to rely on faith.
I came across this story about a homeless man who saved up money people gave him so that he could help other people. You can watch the clip and read about it here: Homeless Man, 77, Scrounges Up Cash From Strangers To Help Others In Need « CBS Los Angeles
When I first saw the video, I was a little stunned. The first thing I thought was, "Well, there goes my last excuse about not having enough to help someone else out." I felt a little bit embarrassed. Here's a homeless man saving up $250 to help other people keep their electricity on. At the same time I also felt really affirmed because it helped remind me that every small thing counts. Maybe that homeless guy was sort of my own personal Clarence.
There are other stories too. I was reading about a charity called The Love Kitchen started by two elderly sisters. In an interview one of them talked about how people will send in a card with just a few dollars inside to help their mission. She said that money was so precious to her because "there's prayer power behind that dollar."
Jesus talked about a widow who gave everything she had.
In the New Testament, It's a Wonderful Life, or The Love Kitchen, it turns out the important thing isn't the size of the offering. It's simply enough that it's given.
There's a Japanese proverb that says, "Even whithered trees lend prosperity to the mountain." I believe God enjoys using all of us whithered trees because it gives him a chance to show how great he really is.
Maybe I need to adjust my attitude about "Christmas in July." I guess it isn't so bad to think about all the best things Christmas brings whether the season is right or not. Is there really a season for peace, hope, joy, love and giving? Nah. We need those every day.
Last week I stretched out on the couch ready to relax a little and watch some TV. When I accessed the guide, I noticed that the Hallmark channel was showing a non- stop Christmas movie marathon.
I gagged.
I apologize if anything remotely Christmas related is enjoyable for you at this time of year, but for me, it's like trying to wear a heavy sweater into a sauna.
If I sat around watching Mrs. Miracle, Elf, and Midnight Santa, it would ruin real Christmas for me. Christmas is special because it's seasonal. All the enjoyable things about Christmas- brisk weather, hot chocolate, special cookies, and cozy blankets - just don't work in July. Christmas is only supposed to come once a year. That's what makes it something magical to savor. When we start celebrating "Christmas in July," the specialness gets sucked out.
"Christmas in July" feels like being taunted by a bully. If you watch one of those movies, you'll be reminded of all the excellent things about the Christmas season. Then you'll get smacked with the reality that it's still SIX MONTHS AWAY! Plus, you'll be forgetting about all the crummy things about winter: icy roads, breaking the ice in your dog's water, and the sun setting at five o'clock.
Why can't we just embrace the fact that it's July? Sure it's miserably hot and humid out there, but the sun is shining. We can go to the beach, and don't forget about all those awesome fireworks.
When I started examining why the "Christmas in July" concept bothers me so much, I realized part of it is because all the Christmas holiday programming shown on TV is probably just an excuse to get more mileage out of the shows a network has purchased. It really is all about the $$$. Also, the one movie that I wouldn't mind seeing in July is never a part of these unseasonal festivals.
It's a Wonderful Life never gets shown unless it's actually Christmas time, which is a shame because although it is a Christmas movie, it isn't just about Christmas. It's about life. I think the reason it's hung around so long (It was made in 1946.) is because it addresses something universally human.
It seems like we're all like George Bailey. We get frustrated and wonder if the tiny contributions we're making really matter in the bigger picture. Unfortunately the rest of us don't have an angel named Clarence who will come along and show us how the world would be if we'd never lived. Instead we have to rely on faith.
I came across this story about a homeless man who saved up money people gave him so that he could help other people. You can watch the clip and read about it here: Homeless Man, 77, Scrounges Up Cash From Strangers To Help Others In Need « CBS Los Angeles
When I first saw the video, I was a little stunned. The first thing I thought was, "Well, there goes my last excuse about not having enough to help someone else out." I felt a little bit embarrassed. Here's a homeless man saving up $250 to help other people keep their electricity on. At the same time I also felt really affirmed because it helped remind me that every small thing counts. Maybe that homeless guy was sort of my own personal Clarence.
There are other stories too. I was reading about a charity called The Love Kitchen started by two elderly sisters. In an interview one of them talked about how people will send in a card with just a few dollars inside to help their mission. She said that money was so precious to her because "there's prayer power behind that dollar."
Jesus talked about a widow who gave everything she had.
And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God,[a] but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” (Luke 21:1-4)
In the New Testament, It's a Wonderful Life, or The Love Kitchen, it turns out the important thing isn't the size of the offering. It's simply enough that it's given.
There's a Japanese proverb that says, "Even whithered trees lend prosperity to the mountain." I believe God enjoys using all of us whithered trees because it gives him a chance to show how great he really is.
Maybe I need to adjust my attitude about "Christmas in July." I guess it isn't so bad to think about all the best things Christmas brings whether the season is right or not. Is there really a season for peace, hope, joy, love and giving? Nah. We need those every day.
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