Man impatiently waiting in a queue.

"They should crucify the man who invented Christmas!"

The friend of mine who heard this said "They did!"
"Who?" said the man.
"Jesus Christ!" my friend replied.
"God Almighty" said the man.
"Yes that's him" said my friend.
"What are you on about?" said the man.
"Well they did crucify him. The man who invented Christmas.. We nailed him to a cross."
"What do you mean 'we crucified him'?" said the man.
"All of us" said my friend.
"I'm not bothered about God" said the man.
"That's what I mean" said my friend as the man turned away. "Maybe we crucify him when we ignore him" my friend said into thin air.
END OF CONVERSATION

I guess if you have read this you are likely to remember just what Christmas is about. Could you join with me in reminding your children and friends that Christmas is just the beginning of the story. They really did crucify the man who invented Christmas. In fact he came to die for us. The cost was a long uncomfortable trip for Mary. A lot of misunderstanding for Joseph, and a dirty stable in down town Bethlehem for Jesus. Then, 33 years later, a disgusting rubbish tip called Golgotha near Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified.

Please tell your children and your children's children. Remind them of the most amazing story, that

"God so loved the world he sent his only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life"

Let's not let his message be buried under a mound of presents.