It's Beginning to Look A Lot like Christmas

I saw this meme on Facebook on Nov. 1 and my response was an emphatic NO!!! 

The kids are still eating Halloween candy, but the stores are setting up for Christmas!  Yes, Christmas will be here in 50 days!   


​I'm not a Scrooge
I know that this is the time of year where we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior--or is it?  When we fight people at Black Friday sales, and charge up credit cards while praying the Lord will get us out of debt, are we really celebrating the gift of Jesus as Lord and Savior? 

Every year it seems Christmas comes faster and faster.  That old saying, "as slow as Christmas" seems obsolete.  I've been saying we would have a light Christmas every year for the past 5 or 6 years, then every year I get sucked into the vortex of the festivities and expenses!  We put up a tree, decorate the house, bake loaves and loaves of pumpkin bread, and buy a bunch of stuff we don't need.  This year, I mean it, and everyone reading this post is my witness--Christmas, in our household, will be light!  And it should be because no one needs anything!  We have wants, but no needs!  

Our Plan for Christmas 2017
1.  Give small (very inexpensive) tokens of love and adoration to family and friends.  
2. Follow the Four Gift Rule for our children--with a financial limit.  Each child will receive something to wear, something to read, something they want and something they need. 
3.  Bless two people at the grocery store, once in November, once in December, by paying for their items.   

Reason for the Season
The reason for the Christmas season is to celebrate the gift of Jesus given by God to mankind.  "For God so love the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16 NIV)  Just as the wisemen gave Jesus gold, frankencense and myrh,  We give gifts to each other to show our love.  Over the years, our practice of gift-giving has become commercialized making me question our motives.  Do we give gifts to show love or to meet the expectations of the world?  I personally think we do it for a combination of reasons, but when we find ourselves giving more and more expensive gifts, and indulging in things we don't need, it's time for a pause.  In the words of Jesus, "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower.  Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?" (Luke 4:28 NIV)  As we build this tower called Christmas, let's be mindful of the cost.  

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