Reflections

When I was growing up in Wales Christmas was always a big thing in our house. The Salvation Army band I was a member of spent the whole of December bringing the Christmas message to the surrounding area, culminating with the local "tour" on Christmas morning. A whole month reminding people about the birth of Christ!

One thing I always found strange was that my Mother would never let me write the word Xmas. Here reasoning was simple, without Christ there is no Christmas! As the years have gone on I've realised how many people forget what Christmas is all about. Many celebrate, but forget what they are celebrating! We even see respected charities ban Christ from their shops in the fear that they'll annoy someone. I was relieved to see that leaders of other faiths challenged this flawed thinking with the same sense of incredulity as I did!

As John Byrom wrote "Christians Awake, salute the happy morn, whereon the Saviour of the world was born".

Christ is the reason for the celebration. Lets spend sometime this holiday remembering him and what he did for us. Lets also think about the words we sing in some of those beautiful carols and let them speak to us. Fellow Christians reading this message take time to remind your friends and family what this time of year is all about. As my Mum used to say "without Christ there is not Christmas".

Nadolig Llawen i'r Byd oddiwrth Killyleagh or as they say in these parts Happy Christmas to the World from Killyleagh.

Tony Davies