We are only a couple weeks away from one of the most anticipated days of the year: Christmas! During the Christmas season, it is easy to get caught up in material things like presents, the lights and all the delicious food. However, it is important to look past all these things during this time of year because Christmas is so much more than that.

Christmas is a time for reconnecting with family and friends, giving back to the community, and spreading kindness to one another. We are only a couple weeks away from one of the most anticipated days of the year: Christmas! During the Christmas season, it is easy to get caught up in material things like presents, the lights and all the delicious food. However, it is important to look past all these things during this time of year because Christmas is so much more than that. Christmas is a time for reconnecting with family and friends, giving back to the community, and spreading kindness to one another.  When driving through the city and looking at different advertisements that try to entice possible consumers, I almost always see the quote Merry ‘Xmas’ obviously shortened for the actual saying of Merry Christmas. And I think to myself, when did this trend of taking the word Christ out of Christmas become so normalized during this time of year?When I see that quote, I see that a shortcut is being made to get a point across. However, in life there are no shortcuts. Christmas gives each of us the chance to get closer with our families but most importantly, to God. For us to truly become closer with God in mind, body, and spirit, we must embrace that there are no shortcuts in life. That is why this Christmas season, we must make a continuous effort to keep Christ in Christmas, for this most special day of the year would not have existed without the Lord.

I wish all of you a heartfelt Christmas with all of your families, filled with love, joy and prayer. See you next year and God Bless.