You may or may not know that we do not buy Christmas gifts. It's a personal choice. Sebastian and I have decided that there is not a single thing that our children need, and spending oodles of money on things our kids won't appreciate does nothing to honor Christ. We have held this conviction since we became a WE.
Even more so this year as I look at the pictures of my mom's mission trip to Africa. I am struck by how very little we need to survive. I am struck by the joy on the faces of people when they have a chance to see a loved one. There is not a child in the pictures playing a game boy, listening to their I-pod, or leaving their junk all over the house. There are pictures of children cuddled into my mom's lap. There are pictures of the food that they fed to my mother- I'm sure it was meant to be their own dinner. There are pictures of filth, malnutrition, and JOY.
And today 4 people lost their lives in the mad dash to accumulate. In Long Island a Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death as crowds broke into the store. In the same melee an 8 month pregnant woman lost her baby from injuries received in the mad dash for STUFF. In California 2 people were shot to death after an argument broke out in a Toys-R-Us store. I sure hope that the toy can replace the daddy a child lost today.
Wake up at 3 am to stand in line for hours just to feed the beast of the CHRIST-less-MAS gluttony? No thank you. I would rather snuggle further under my comforter with the child who has climbed in with me. And isn't Christmas really about a child?
7 comments:
Beautiful post. And so true!
wow, I had no idea about all that going on back home. I do know Friday is always crazy... it is funny since we had kids, we have been doing more shopping around Christmas, because my dad comes to visit and it is our only time to get things from America. Eli is getting ALL homeschool stuff for a kindergarten kid and books. So it is a lot, but it is also a curriculum. Stuff you cannot get here... I am wrapping up all his learning books so that he has lots to open. Maybe he won't be so excited once he realizes that it is all school stuff.
Your post is dead on!
Great post G. Dad and I spent the evening with Msoshi and Rebeka going over the pictures choosing ones to use for our video presentation. Palmers were here also. Great evening and it just renewed my desire to do all I can to help these dear people.
Yupe. Black Friday is evil.
I think that is really cool that you all don't partake in the conspicuous consumption that has become the Christmas season. But I cannot imagine trying to work that into our lives :-) However...I would like to claim one small victory. This year for the first time...and for forever...my girls are forsaking birthday gifts. On their birthdays, they will pick a charity...and we will donate to that. For Madalyn's birthday - she has picked the Humane society. So, if her friends want to bring gifts - it'll be dog or cat food, litter, or whatever they need. I love that they so willingly agreed to do this!
You are one hundred percent dead on. We do do gifts but we have really scaled it back. Several years ago, we quit exchanging gifts with the 15 cousins because it was out of hand and an embarrassement of riches. I still have unopened toys from last year that my MIL sent the kids...She sends rubbermaid bins full of stuff...we keep telling her that the kids don't need or want all that stuff. But to her it's about stuff and not Christ. Happily, my kids only asked for one big thing and books. No problem.
I know I'm kind of late here but I love what you've written. Personally I'd rather send money to a charity or others in need. Luckily my work this year raised enough money to help 9 families. That's what Christmas is all about to me anyway! Excellent post!!!
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