I know, I know…It is not Christmas yet.  It’s not even Thanksgiving yet.  But if you go to stores like Wal-Mart, you will see their Christmas stuff up already.  Many big department stores are also getting their displays up and starting the huge holiday push.  For the retail industry, the Christmas season can’t come soon enough.  It seems they are in the Christmas spirit earlier and earlier every year.  I’ll get there, but get me through Thanksgiving first; then I will show you a Christmas spirit that is not tied to sales receipts.

But then this morning I started to have some hope for the retail industry.  The Today Show had a story about Wal-Mart bringing back "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays".  I started to have more respect for Wal-Mart, if only for a few seconds.  But my respect for them was quickly brought back to reality as the story continued.

Apparently Wal-Mart (along with other retail outlets) received a lot of pressure, last year, from groups like the Catholic League about removing "Christmas" from the Christmas season.   People like me like to hear the greeting "Merry Christmas" but if you shopped at Wal-Mart last year, you probably did not hear that from an employee.  This year you will.

Has Wal-Mart and some other retail outlets finally seen the light?  Have they discovered the true meaning of Christmas?  No.  As the story continued Wal-Mart talked about a dip in the sales last year because of the boycott the Catholic League headed up.  So Wal-Mart as bowed to the pressure and has returned to saying "Merry Christmas".  I have no problem with this change.  But before you start thinking that Wal-Mart and others in the retail industry are having a change of heart, remember that for them it is about money and it always will be.  That will never change.

Thanksgiving is a week from Thursday.  As you prepare for Thanksgiving and get ready for the Christmas season, let me be one of the first to remind you to get ready in the right way.  Remember why we celebrate Christmas.  It is not about receiving something off you Christmas list you have always wanted.  Rather Christmas is about one thing and one thing only…Jesus Christ.  Don’t be fooled by clever advertising slogans to buy, buy and buy some more.  Don’t be taken in by the Christmas spirit unleashed by the likes of Wal-Mart and others.  Be taken in by the spirit of God.  Be taken in by the manger scene and know that that baby (Jesus Christ) is the reason for the season and nothing else.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving…and MERRY CHRISTMAS! (sorry…I couldn’t resist) Take care and God bless.  -EDH-