Being Santa Claus may be dangerous to your health. Did you read about the Santa who was bitten by the little tike because he failed to bring the right gift last year? Every year at Christmas time all over America Santas are kicked, punched, and scratched and have their beards pulled and dampened by kids of all sizes. It is no wonder Ho,Ho,Ho may turn to No, No, No.

I have read that Christmas time is the saddest time of the year to many people. They are lonely and depressed because they cannot give the gifts they would like in today's economy, are separated from loved ones and are generally unhappy for a hundred other reasons. To be happy or not to be happy is largely a matter of personal choice. If you are unhappy choose to be happy and if you are happy choose to heIp the unhappy friend or family member to make a better choice.

I make it a point to start off every morning humming a happy tune, whether or not I feel like it. The effect is almost magical. It helps the day to begin with a smile. In fact when others hear me sing it often results in downright laughter. Smiles are good, and smiles in the morning tend to last all day.

There are unhappy clichés in our language that many of us use without even realizing that we are being negative. Learn what they are and try to avoid them. Let me give you just a few examples. "How are you?" Response: "Not too bad." That means that your friend is something less than okay. Your proper response would be sympathy: "I hope it is nothing serious."

"Take care." How many times have you offhandedly been told to "take care"? Or maybe that is one of your favorites. Did you ever think of its negative connotation. I believe it is far more important to "take control." Certainly one must consider the consequences of each action, but that should be a part of control and of being in charge. Paul wrote to the Philippian church "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Take control; put it in God's hands.

"Thank God, it's Friday!" This means another week of your life has passed you by and implies it has been a burden. Earl Nightingale suggests that much of America's declining productivity can be traced to the TGIF attitude. Whatever your task in life, it is the work to which God has called you at the moment. How you perform that job reflects your faith and your trust. Monday should be approached with the same enthusiasm as Friday; then it becomes "Goodness, is it Friday already?"

This should be the most positive time of the year. It is the time of the celebration of the birth of our Savior. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year emphasize the Good News that was proclaimed by the angels:

"Fear not; for behold, I bring you good tiding of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord'' [Luke 2:10,11].

May this Christmas be to you and yours the happiest ever in Christ--the reason for the season.