This was the first Christmas that I was really able to enjoy a secular Christmas, since before I was a Christian.  Even though I left Christianity in October of last year, I was still dealing with a lot of the aftermath of that decision by the time Christmas came around.  Last year I survived Christmas, if barely.

This year was different.  I have been happily without god for over a year.  Everyone (mostly) knows about it.  And I had no qualms about keeping Christ out of my Christmas.

And, it was fantastic!

It was just like the Christmases I remember as a kid, back when the reason for the season was giving and spending time with family.  My mom always loved Christmas and it was never a religious holiday.  It was always a time to give to others, including strangers in need.

I missed out on that while I was a Christian.  Sure, I still gave to strangers in need, but it was always about bringing glory to God, not just because it felt good to do.  Christmas seemed more like an obligation.  It’s the church’s biggest ministry opportunity of the year, you know!  (As we were reminded every year.)

How fun!  Let’s turn Christmas into a chore!

My first Christmas as a Christian, I bought everyone Bibles and/or Christian books, even my non-Christian family.  I kid you not.  Yeah, I was a real barrel of fun in those days.

Christmas was usually spent trying to minimize the materialism and gift-giving and keep the focus on Jesus.  As you can imagine, my love for the holiday faded away over the years.

This year, however, I actually enjoyed Christmas.  My husband, three sons, and I got up at 6AM and opened presents and then ate cinnamon rolls (which I made the night before and baked that morning).  My mother and sister and their significant others came over a few hours later and we hung out and opened presents and ate cinnamon rolls, applesauce cake, blueberry muffins, and fruit salad.  Then, we just sat around and spent time together all day, while grazing on the appetizers I set out and watching “Micky’s Christmas Carol” and “The Christmas Toy”.  We ate dinner in mid-afternoon and then everyone took desserts home because they were stuffed.  (I made a lot of food.)

It was a fantastic way to spend the day!

There was no guilt, no praying, no trying to find a parking space at the Christmas Eve service, no trying to share Jesus with my non-Christian relatives – just food, family, and fun, my favorite things!

I saw many comments on facebook and elsewhere about the “reason for the season.”  I have found the reason; it’s just not the one they were talking about.

This year was different.  I have been happily without god for over a year.  Everyone (mostly) knows about it.  And I had no qualms about keeping Christ out of my Christmas.

And, it was fantastic!

It was just like the Christmases I remember as a kid, back when the reason for the season was giving and spending time with family.  My mom always loved Christmas and it was never a religious holiday.  It was always a time to give to others, including strangers in need.

I missed out on that while I was a Christian.  Sure, I still gave to strangers in need, but it was always about bringing glory to God, not just because it felt good to do.  Christmas seemed more like an obligation.  It’s the church’s biggest ministry opportunity of the year, you know!  (As we were reminded every year.)

How fun!  Let’s turn Christmas into a chore!

My first Christmas as a Christian, I bought everyone Bibles and/or Christian books, even my non-Christian family.  I kid you not.  Yeah, I was a real barrel of fun in those days.

Christmas was usually spent trying to minimize the materialism and gift-giving and keep the focus on Jesus.  As you can imagine, my love for the holiday faded away over the years.

This year, however, I actually enjoyed Christmas.  My husband, three sons, and I got up at 6AM and opened presents and then ate cinnamon rolls (which I made the night before and baked that morning).  My mother and sister and their significant others came over a few hours later and we hung out and opened presents and ate cinnamon rolls, applesauce cake, blueberry muffins, and fruit salad.  Then, we just sat around and spent time together all day, while grazing on the appetizers I set out and watching “Micky’s Christmas Carol” and “The Christmas Toy”.  We ate dinner in mid-afternoon and then everyone took desserts home because they were stuffed.  (I made a lot of food.)

It was a fantastic way to spend the day!

There was no guilt, no praying, no trying to find a parking space at the Christmas Eve service, no trying to share Jesus with my non-Christian relatives – just food, family, and fun, my favorite things!

I saw many comments on facebook and elsewhere about the “reason for the season.”  I have found the reason; it’s just not the one they were talking about.

(Link via Green Mountain Daily)

I’m one to talk.  Over-analyze is my middle name.  I don’t take myself too seriously, though.  If anything, I don’t take myself seriously enough.

I’m not a big Bob Dylan fan, so that may be why I don’t get what the big deal is that he recorded the songs traditionally, but I totally get why he did.  They are Christmas songs.  If they are not recorded traditionally, there is really little point to them.

You played this right down the middle, doing classic holiday songs in traditional arrangements. Did you know going in you wanted to play it straight?
Oh sure, there wasn’t any other way to play it. These songs are part of my life, just like folk songs. You have to play them straight too.

My favorite line in the piece has to be this next one.  I just thought it was a great line.

The Chicago Tribune felt this record needed more irreverence. Doesn’t that miss the point?
Well sure it does, that’s an irresponsible statement anyway. Isn’t there enough irreverence in the world? Who would need more? Especially at Christmas time.

You can buy Christmas In the Heart at Amazon.com. “All of Bob Dylan’s U.S. current and future royalties from sales of Christmas In The Heart will be donated in perpetuity to Feeding America, guaranteeing that more than four million meals will be provided to over 1.4 million people in need in this country during this year’s holiday season.”