My friend recently posted a blog regarding how everybody has gone Christmas mad (www.nxdem.com). That people have lost the true meaning of Christmas. That in some ways we are giving into the 'peer pressure' of society by going overboard with gift giving. That the holiday season has become so commercialized that it lost it's power. After reading his blog, I thought about it for a new days and here's what I came up with. No one can say I don't have a mind of my own. His blog had some valid point, but I've always been a devils advocate. ;-)
Yes, Christmas is a great time to give to the needy and to truly remember that it's all about Christ. Of course, this is something that should be done year round. I also hate how commercialized it has become, but Christmas is the season for giving to everybody, like Christ gave us. I don't think anyone should feel bad about giving, whether it be to a homeless person in need of a meal or a spoiled 12 year old that HAS TO HAVE that Xbox. Now, God IS all about relationships. We should give of ourselves to each other, not just presents. But He likes presents too! If you read the Bible you'll see ALL the WAY through how God just loved giving gifts to His people. I was recently told by someone that every time we give to someone else we're giving to God. That's how we show Him our love, by giving to others. Now yes there are selfish spoiled people out there who are all about what THEY want for Christmas, but they're usually in the 12 year old range. God is all about gift giving in EVERY form. He is HONORED in EVERY form. His GLORY shines in EVERY form. I LOVE Christmas because this is the time of year where crazy mall shoppers like yourself are looking for that perfect gift for someone they love. Something they can hand to their loved one to prove they care. Should people show they care in other forms as well, verbal affirmation, giving of their time, etc..? YES, of course. But the excuse of Christmas seems to make it a little easier, huh?!? A REMINDER to ourselves to not be so focused on the person in the mirror.
As someone who's number one love language is gift giving, I'm all for giving presents on Christmas. It's a perfect time of year to show the most important people in your life that you care. It doesn't have to be some HUGE pricey gift, it's the thought..the effort. Someone thought about what I needed and would like, wrapped it in a pretty box, and gave it to me for Christmas. That's special! Should we give to the needy in Jesus' name, of course we should! But doesn't our Father bless us with gifts everyday, just to see us smile, and to remind us we're special to Him. Our Father doesn't always just give us what we need, but also what we want. Like any Father on Christmas, He loves to see us get excited and open our gifts from Him. So, I'm helping our economy and buying gifts this year. Gifts that I put thought into..some cheap..some pricier and I'll probably spend WAY too much. AND I'm going to love every second of it. Because I love having an excuse to show people I care, just like my Father. I look at Christmas as Playing it Forward! :-) He gave to me today, therefore I'm giving to you tomorrow. The true meaning of Christmas will never be lost on His children. So..that's my optimistic view on Christmas!! Ho..Ho..Ho..:-)
Friday, December 12, 2008
Christmas Vice..
Posted by Mel at 7:53 AM
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7 comments:
Very well said. I am always glad to be an inspiration for your posts, and a cause for deep reflection.
Note, I was not proposing to do away with exchanging gifts. Believe me, I will be glad to accept any and every gift offered to me, and I will be sure to bless my family with small thoughtful surprises. :)
It is when we spend excessive money on things for people that are already well off, while completely failing to take any thought and action for those less fortunate.
Furthermore, the purchase of gifts with money we don't have, just in order to keep up with everyone else and not look bad, can be a dangerous cycle.
oh, I forgot... for all other readers, I am "the friend" that Melinda is talking about. Perhaps she'll do us the favor and provide a link to my post the next time she critiques it. ;)
Agreed...I see your point and BTW i'm sure this won't be the last post you inspire..WATCH OUT!! I'm on the world wide web now!!! lol
The blog address has now been added. :-P
I totally agree with the blog with the comments added. Christmas has become SO commercialized and I think it's gotten out of wack in the Christian realm. Gift giving is wonderful and I don't think it should stop, but if we and our children are more focused on what we're getting instead of what we've been given in Christs' birth then there's a problem.
good thoughts!! definitely thought-provoking :)
hmmm... an xbox for a spoiled 12 year old OR SAVING THE LIVES OF 20 PEOPLE by giving them access to clean water for life??? that's a toughy...
& just in the 12 year old's home - on 1 side he gets what he wants which just feeds the "spoiledness"... he grows up that way. he continues this crazy over-spending cycle as an adult. OR
he learns GENEROSITY and helping the poor & giving JESUS a drink as a 12 year old. wow, that's revolutionary. then he's a MUCH different adult. I wonder what a 12 year old would think about a $20 gift & know that he saved 20 lives by forfeiting the xbox.
(then of course if we ALL did that, then 3,900 children would NOT die TOMORROW because they can't have a drink of clean water.)
& of couse if you still need to give big gifts to everyone... surely if we're not spoiled 12 year olds we can do without lavish gifts. maybe we could ask for donations for the poor instead of gifts... just an idea?
Ok, I see where you're going with this Patrick and I'm not saying you're wrong. I admire your heart for the less fortunate. I'm just saying it's not that black and white. For example, you give your nephew an Xbox and 20 people will die. Don’t you think that’s kind of harsh? Have people gone crazy with Christmas? YES! But to judge people's choice of gift giving I don't agree with. I personally give to Water International year round. Everybody should be giving to charity year round. We all should look outside of ourselves to touch another human for Christ. What I'm saying is showing love in all its forms brings glory to God! Giving is contagious, whether it is to water international or my nephew. I want to raise my children to be givers in every sense of the word. To look into every day with excitement over the opportunity to bless God by showing His love. Leading by example is how I plan to do that.
You know, I think about Jesus performing all His miracles in the Bible. He’s the perfect example on how to love and give. Most of His miracle were for the needy, the lonely, the hurting, but don’t forget when He turned water into wine. Did they need more wine? NO! They could drink water, so why did he do it? He did it for His mother. He wanted to make her happy. Of course, we could go more in dept about that story and others. The point is if you live a life as a giver in all its forms you should have nothing to feel guilty about come Christmas day. We’re all spoiled yet God continues to bless us because He loves us. Let’s encourage each other to have a heart of giving wherever God leads, not judge each other for not giving to the ‘right’ things. :-) Thanks for joining the conversation Patrick. Feel free to keep it coming, I can take it. :-)
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