There was once a simpler way to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Back before everyone got so caught up in buying electronic doo-hickeys and other distractions, Christmas was time to spend with your loved ones. It’s become increasingly a time where grand events and star-studded activities steal the attention from the simple stable, the humble family and the quiet baby whose birth was the beginning of this celebration.

We’ve not always done it right in the mountains either but I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how children’s programs in little churches used to be back up in the holler. We used to dress up in little costumes mostly including bath robes and towels so we could play like shepherds and wise men. And it was ok if somebody’s little sister was a wise man because we didn’t have enough boys and they needed something to do and we all agreed they weren’t nary angel.

Memorized lines and somebody to cue us and nervous kids and proud mommies made the night a little rough but once this nativity act was through and everybody sang “Away in a Manger” or some other appropriate song, a volunteer dressed in a red suit with a beard would come busting into the church and ho-ho-ho their way to the front and begin passing out those treat bags we got every year. You know, a brown paper poke with an orange, an apple, several nuts, and a handful of hard candy or maybe even a few pieces of wrapped chocolate. That was Christmas to many of us. And it was simple and it worked just fine.

Our modern world has gotten too big for its britches. Too sophisticated. Too materialistic and too worldly. We need to return to the simple things and develop a better appreciation for the blessings of relationships in a small community.

Maybe then we wouldn’t act so dogged hard headed and try to redefine the world in the crazy ways we’ve been doing.

Y’all have a merry Christmas. I’m just going to leave this right here a bit. Mull over it.