I remember as a kid that stores would have "Christmas in July" sales. I always thought it was the dumbest thing ever. I mean, who buys Christmas presents in July?! Of course, I'm one of those dummies who waits until Christmas Eve to do my shopping! It's a rush! Running through the malls kicking all of the trash & damaged boxes laying everywhere. You know, the "junk" that nobody really wants & that gets knocked off the shelves. I guess that's why I've never been voted "Best Gift Giver" by my friends, huh? Sorry, gang!
Anyway, I think that Brazil was the country that introduced the United States to these blowout sales in July. Not really...but that's what it feels like to me. It's like I'm waiting for the big firework show on the 4th of July & just happen to pass by A LOT of "Christmas in July" sales here. It's really weird!
To try to get into the Christmas mood, I put in one of my Christmas favorites..."A Christmas Story." It was nice seeing all of the snow, everyone bundled up in coats, & watching Flick stick his tongue to the flag pole again! (If you don't understand watch the movie) But it was really weird seeing all of these things happen while sitting in my shorts, my t-shirt, no shoes, drinking a sweating cup of cold Guaraná, & using my mosquito bug zapper racket! Trust me, I don't miss the cold weather! But, I must admit that this is definitely different!
It has help me focus though. It has helped me to realize the importance of other cultures. It has helped me to remember that Christmas isn't about snow, lights, trees, presents, or cold weather. In fact, it's not even about the how hot the sun is here in Porto Alegre. It's about the SON. Take a moment to remember how much He loves you & me. He left the glories of heaven to be born on dirt & straw with some animals in a barn. Oh, how He loves you & me. Even as a child, He had to flee with his parents to a foreign land because the king wanted to kill him! Oh, how He loves you & me.
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." -Luke 2:11
