Each week the Comet polls its readers on a different topic. Vote online at carrollcountycomet.com starting each Thursday, and then click the Comments link to send us an email voicing your opinion. The best responses will be printed the following week. Should text messaging be banned for drivers of all ages? Yes No Last Week's results What makes Christmas a special time for you? 31% Time with family and friends 02% Gifts 00% Traveling 02% Christmas music and programs 23% Celebrating Christ's birth Total responses: 60 Reader's comments:

I find it difficult to separate two of the answers in your poll. While celebrating Christ's birth and coming into this world to rebuild the bridge to God is the primary reason for this special day, it would be practically useless if we celebrated it alone.

Christ instituted the Church, His body, the community of believers of which He is head. Within that community are many people, each serving as a part of the body. Each of us have unique God-given gifts and talents and purposes that we are to use in conjunction with others. Foundational among the building blocks in this community is the family. Christ blessed and reconfirmed the institution of marriage and family, and further included our neighbors (all others around us). He commanded us to love others as much as we love ourselves. We cannot truly function as individuals—if we do, then we are useless in the body and find ourselves outside the body.

Christmas is a time for community celebration, recognizing Christ as the incredible gift of God and as our head and master.

We celebrate as families, as churches, and as communities of believers in more public ways. We celebrate in love, reflecting the infinite love of God, and that is not an individual emotion or event. Kris Brower Arlington, TX