Black Friday - We just don't get it

Black Friday is madness, pure madness. I've never had the desire to get out in the middle of the night, wait in long lines in cold weather and bombard a store as the doors open simply to save 75 percent on a flat screen TV. As I heard reports of men being tasered over a Kindle and a grandfather being arrested for trying to protect his grandson from being trampled, I had to wonder what God thinks of all of this. How does He feel about how we, His children, have turned His Son's holiest birthday into a shopping bonanza?

I'm certain He doesn't like it. Just like we aren't too happy when our children do things like fight with their brothers or sisters over a toy, pitch a temper tantrum when you won't let them have a piece of chocolate before dinner or worse, tell their grandmother this wasn't the gift they wanted for Christmas. We get upset, frustrated and disappointed, but we still love them. Just as God still loves us when we fight over the latest Nintendo DS games in the middle of a crowded Wal-Mart at 3 a.m. He still loves us, even though sometimes we just don't get it. We don't get what Jesus' birthday truly means. We don't get that it meant God came down in the form of man to save us from our horrible sins. We don't get that it means everlasting love and joy for all who will simply love Him back. We don't get it because we're human and we're flawed. In God's eyes we often act like a 2-year-old who doesn't get her way.

However, we are all capable of getting it, at least as best as our human minds will allow. So as we prepare for the birthday of the One who has saved us from our crazy antics, my prayer is we will all take a moment to be still. A moment to realize the true miracle of Christ's birth. I challenge us to do something for others this holiday season, whether it's feeding the homeless, visiting a nursing home, or simply turning off the television and spending quality time with the family.

I mess up everyday. I do stupid things to make God wonder where He went wrong. So this holiday season my goal is to make Him quit shaking His giant head at my childish acts, and have Him be a proud parent of His child who is trying her best to get it.