Christmas???

I usually look forward to Christmas. The carols playing in the stores, the decorations and lights making everything pretty, the shopping, the family gatherings and the treats and drinks to make the season Merry, but for some reason, I just can't seem to get into the spirit of it all. I thought putting up the tree would help, but nothing. It seems like a lot of folks feel this way. Is it because of the economy? It's hard to say... it just seems like the magic of Christmas has faded. Shopping has been a total bust, I have no idea what to buy for my own kids, never mind nieces, nephews, siblings, parents.... I'd like to know when Christmas became this retail holiday rather than the celebration of our Lord and Saviour's birth. There are so many people in the world who have no idea about the true meaning of Christmas, and it's sad. Rather than basking in the glow of some LEDs on a tree, we should be basking in the glow of the Light of the world, the one who came to set us free...