It's the holiday season, Christmas parties, Christmas shows, Christmas events, and programs. We get wrapped up in the moment, in the festivities, and the hectic season. There's a commercial on tv where a child asks "what about baby Jesus?", he's watching his family run around getting ready for a party, cooking, cleaning, wrapping gifts, and he reminds them of what this time of year should be about in our lives. It's not about the presents, the parties, the travel, it's about Jesus, the true meaning of what Christmas is all about - the birth of Christ, and the beginning of hope again in the world.
Lately it seems everyone is wanting to do a search of their ancestors, to find out "where" the family originated, what area of the country and what race and nationality. I find it "strange" that as we go thru life, and after several generations we still have the same choices in filling out any form or document on race. I'm "white", my ancestors were Scottish-Irish and American Indian. I refer to myself as just an American of the Caucasian race. I wonder at times where people get the ideas or mindset that because a person is mixed, or half of one or the other, then they must "pick" what they are in this world. Back when my family obviously crossed the "race lines", did we become Indian or did we remain Scottish-Irish, or when we entered the new world of American, did we cease to exist from our former lands, and just become an American?
When do we, or do we ever just say we're Americans? Why does there have to be a distinction among us, we have American Indians, we have African Americans, Spanish Americans, etc. I understand the wanting to remember your heritage, but it seems there should come a time where you just say you're American. You came here for a reason, or were brought here for a reason, maybe it's time to just be an American. Maybe there needs to be more unity in this country, and less of people trying to be separate.
We live in a country where races do mix, where people marry other cultures, regardless of a person's choice to marry, people need to remember we're all created by God, in his image, and according to his purpose. We have a purpose in life, and God gave us free will to make choices in life - to choose good or evil, and based upon our choices - we still have to answer to God one day.
When we hear about choice - I think about life, I think about children. In my opinion (and I'm not into debating this issue - it's my choice of my opinion), birth begins at conception. Abortion is a choice, but it's not a choice I support. Too often I see people not accepting a child for being born out of wedlock and/or a child born from another race. Maybe if we all did a little family research and see where we "came from", then maybe we'd be more receptive and realize that once upon a time, someone excepted a family remember that "crossed over" the line we have created in our own minds.
In my Bible, and in my experiences, as well in the many times spent in church, I'm taught God is the one and only judge of what is, what will be, and what can be in this world. Maybe it's time we judged less, loved more, and remember the real reason for the season.
