December is filled with shopping, parties, shopping, crafting, SHOPPING, cooking, Shopping, caroling, SHOPPING, eating, Shopping, plays and maybe even a little more SHOPPING (imagine that).
It's no wonder why so many people get depressed right after Christmas. There has to be a bit of a letdown with all of this leading up to one day (not to mention the credit card bills that start to roll in after all of the shopping).
The thought of being a "slave" to something seems to stick out in my mind of late...
The Bible tells us that we should not be a slave to anything (other than Christ). Yet, have you ever realized how much we allow other things to become our masters?
Any SIN that we allow in our lives becomes our master.
ANY SIN!
Pride, Envy, Hate, Lust, etc.
They are the things that we allow to dictate our behavior, our attitudes, our relationships...the reason that we do the things we do.
Ugh! Not a pretty thought, is it?
It may even be the praise of men...
could it be that sometimes we don't give gifts out of genuine love but instead that we may be thought of well by the one receiving the gift. We spend MORE on a gift because we don't want someone to think we're "cheap" or because we want someone to like us.
Generally, I give gifts out of sincerity. Nothing irks me more than the phrase,
"We'll, you know you have to give them something since they got you a gift."
Really?!?!
I think not- I want to be "real" and act out of heartfelt love and sincerity.
I thought we were giving gifts out of sincere love, to show appreciation and as a sign of affection...not DUTY.
Don't get me wrong, I am no Scrooge. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!
I LOVE to give gifts...I'd be bankrupt if I gave everyone what I would like to...I like to put a lot of thought into what I give. My kids laugh because they never ask for anything (I thank God for children that are not so self-centered and want, want, want) but they always seem to be thrilled with the gifts that they get. I think it's because I don't just get things to shove under the tree but spend a lot of time researching, paying attention to what they like, and then thoughtfully choosing a gift for them.
They don't get tons of gifts either. This year they may get 2 gifts each along with a stocking with some small things and goodies.
But I GUARANTEE they are going to LoVE what they get. (I can hardly wait to see them open them ). For goodness sakes, how awful it would be if they had piles of presents and didn't appreciate anything...unwrapping one thing, tossing it aside and going to the next thing.
I challenge you, dear reader to slow down, think about how you are choosing to celebrate this holiday.
Don't become a slave to the commercialism that seems to have invaded this beautiful season.
Instead find joy in the little things...reflect upon Christ and His ultimate gift.
This time of year is wonderful to stop and REALLY think about the sacrifice Christ made for us so that we can be free from the chains and slavery of sin.
The decorating, the parties, the gift-giving...it's all just fine. But try to think about the reason you do what you...make sure you are living in the freedom Christ has given you if you are HIs Child.
I appreciate this post. I was commenting just the other day to Nathan about how in one way I love Christmas, but in another I absolutely dread it. The Christmas spirit -- the decor, the scents, the traditions, the love, the laughter, the meaning of it all -- is what I like, but the shopping, the hassles, the money and lack of money, the worry over what to get and where to shop and who to buy for and how much to spend just gets to me. Because, see, all I want out of Christmas is a time to look back on the year and thank God for what He has given and is giving. So many Christmases I have gone to my room and almost wished to have only been given one thing just because I know that my parents try so hard to make us happy when really, happy is within the walls of this home.
ReplyDeleteSo, agreed. And with that said, from you guys I truly need nothing but a nice hug from my Aunt and some family time for Christmas. :)
Ohh, this warms my heart! I really appreciate your comments. (I'm also glad that rambling made sense to someone other than me). ;)
ReplyDeleteI think that we spend our lives either "footloose and fancy free" recklessly wasting our precious days away, enslaved by our own passions and agendas or guarding our every breath, cherishing each moment we are given, trying to be mindful of The One we are here to serve...unfortunately for me, I spend more time than I wish crying out within myself as Paul did, "...for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. (Romans 7:18, 19)
I get very frustrated with myself that I seem to DESIRE to be much more than I am WILLING to work at! ...and so I find myself subject too often to the enslavement of what man thinks more than what God thinks. (Oh, wretched man that I am!)
Soooooo...
We should devise a new tradition...make it special and unique. A simpler celebration of the season! Our families could each draw names and not be allowed to buy each other something but make it to where it must be hand-made. We could get everyone from the oldest (that would be your dad) you can tell him i said it too ;) all the way down to my little guys involved. How much fun that would be!?! It would obviously have to be heartfelt because you wouldn't want to invest your time/energy/amazing inherited, genetically derived talent ;) into just any old thing. (Okay, so Little House on the Prairie just flashed before my mind with their Christmas celebrations- I swear I was born well after my "time". I should've been a Ma Ingles!). :D