The month of December is a month of great excitement. Even though the weather might not be the best, the spirit of the month, especially around Christmas time, is very high. Christmas is a reminder of why this season is so great in our lives. It is a reminder of the greatest event in the history of the world -- the birthday of Jesus Christ. From that birth came not only a child who became a man, but one who sent throughout the world a set of values that are unlike any other religious leader in the history of the world. He taught that we must be willing to forgive not only seven times a day, but seventy times a day. He taught that we must forgive those who trespass against us and in the last moment of his life on earth he taught the same lesson of forgiveness when he said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do".

This birthday of Jesus Christ reminds us of a man who gave a whole new perspective to love. When he said, "by this shall all men know you are my disciples if you have love for one another as I have love for you". When he said, "A new commandment I give you that you love one another", we have to keep in mind that His theology of love was spoken in a land where there was hatred, where there was slavery, where there was incest, where a persons life had very little value. In fact, if you study the history of the time of Christ, one of the great historians has said, it was better for you if you lived in a stable run by Herod then in one of his palaces. The reasoning being, he took better care of his animals than his friends and relatives. I think all of us look forward to the Christmas season. Yes, we might gripe and complain about the rain or the snow, or the weather that is not to our liking, but I think the reflective person oftentimes knows that this month of December is unique. It reminds us of a man many centuries ago who preached God like qualities. I am sure that same Jesus Christ, who walked through the streets of Galilee and Palestine many years ago, will bring the same degree of forgiveness and compassion that he brought when he walked those same streets. It is a lesson for all of us, we can better the world the way Christ tried by bringing in that same forgiveness and compassion to others. It certainly helps everyone become a better Christian. It certainly helps everyone have a merry Christmas.