These days more and more people would rather avoid the idea of Christmas than celebrate what the season is really all about.
Very few seem willing to even return a cheerful greeting during what is certainly still the most wonderful time of the year.
The tree, the reindeer, the jolly man in the red suit, and the politically correct 'Happy Holidays' are all acceptable, but something is missing.
Driving around town looking at the beautiful lights and inflatable decorations I have to wonder where Christmas has gone in the midst of all this pageantry.
I do love the lights, and giant snowmen make me smile. I even have a soft spot for the big guy but I long to see the manger scenes.
The makeshift stable and the cut-outs of Mary and Joseph, a few shepherds and a couple of sheep, perhaps some wise men and an angel for good measure, and at the centre a little wooden box with a child's doll all wrapped up and playing the part of baby Jesus.
It was not that long ago that Jesus and His manger were right there where they belong, at the centre of every Christmas scene. The manger itself is very significant and has so much to teach us about what truly happened that first Christmas.
It's amazing that God's Son would even come to Earth at all and yet it's even more stunning that this wooden sheep's dish would become His first bed.
Why a manger? Why not a real crib or something more suitable for a newborn infant? Two reasons: the manger was available and the manger was humble. The manger was there when there was no room in the inn and no "proper" place for a baby to sleep.
This little wooden box was available to be used and it was also a humble place. There is no more suitable place for God's Son, who just laid down His heavenly splendor to come here, to sleep than in a bed that best represented His humble attitude.
We can learn a lot from the manger. Jesus himself is not merely the reason we have Christmas. He is Christmas.
The sending of His only Son is God's greatest gift to each of us and like any gift, it's important that we receive God's gift to us properly.
The manger teaches us how to do just that, by being available and humble. That's all it takes to receive the greatest gift of all this Christmas.
I say enjoy the lights, the decorations and all the festivities, but let's not forget to keep the manger and the Holy Child at the centre of it all this year.
While we're at it let's be like the manger and receive Jesus by being available for Him and humble towards Him today.
Dwight Budden is the pastor for Parkland Community Church
