It is more blessed to give
Christmas music is playing on our stereo, my gifts are all wrapped, cookie, muffin, and bread mixes are all made, and I've almost found the bottom of the laundry pile. Hurrah!The best part of all is that I really and truly enjoyed every moment of my short stint of Christmas preparations this morning. And I'm looking forward even more to this weekend when I can give the gifts to their recipients, spend special time with family, and reflect on the greatest gift ever given to man - Christ Jesus Himself. Though He wasn't born on December 25th or even close thereto (despite what some of the Christmas songs say!), I love this season of the year when we take extra time to reflect on the wonder of His birth.
I mentioned earlier that Jesse and I try to keep Christmas really simple around here. We don't want to buy into all the commercialized hype which has, sadly, become known as "Christmas" to most of the world. We've wrestled over celebrating Christmas at all, but have come to the conclusion that at this point in our lives, we want to redeem Christmas in our home for God's glory.
For this reason, we've chosen to focus extra time and energy during the month of December on giving to others. We've found such joy in coming up with creative, meaningful gifts for friends and family members, all the while sticking with the cash budgeted in our envelope designated for "gifts."
Most of all, we've enjoyed looking for opportunities to reach out to those in special need. We found a family who was very physically needy and were able to give them some boxes of food, essential household items, gift cards, and cash. We found out about another woman who was spiritually needy and were able to reach out and give her some things to, Lord-willing, help fill this void in her life.
There are so many, many people who are hurting and needy. Sure, we're not floating in wealth, but compared to these people who can't even afford basic necessities, we are very rich. And as God has blessed us, we want to bless others. We also want to teach out children that, "It is more blessed to give, than to receive." For after all, isn't that the real meaning of Christmas?
"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9
Originally posted December 2006.
Labels: Christmas
posted by Crystal Paine at 5:47 PM
7 Comments:
Crystal,
I admire you and your husband for not wanting to get caught up in what the world calls Christmas. We try to do the same here. We really want to teach our kids about why we even celebrate at all. I enjoy the baking and fellowship with family and friends, but truly focusing on Christ's birth is what gives us great hope and joy. Merry Christmas!
Christmas has always been a bit of an uncomfortable holiday for us. My dh did not grow up celebrating Christmas, partly due to religious convictions.
Unlike the rest of the world - we are not big on the whole idea of Santa and hate commercialization of any of the holidays - but unlike most Christians - we do not celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ b/c of the history of Christmas, the fact that Christ was not born on Christmas Day and the Bible give no directives whatsoever to remember His birth.
But do we still enjoy Christmas - yes! Can we do it to the glory of God? You bet! But I won't be hosting any birthday parties for Jesus - complete with a birthday cake.
How do you deal with the whole area of benevolence - and helping those in need? I mean - do you have any criteria they need to match in order to help them out?
Thanks for reposting this. I remember it last year. It's a great reminder. Thank you.
Kimi
My husband was able to collect 2 paychecks at once for the month Novemeber.Since we had the extra money we gave out gift cards to some unemployed friends,a struggling college student,and extra gift for our pastor and family.So many times we have been the reciept so it was fun sending out gift cards.
Thank you so much for this post. It has motivated me to finish up the last of our Christmas preparations today, and also to remember why we're really celebrating Christmas. Bless you.
I love Christmas :) I love giving most of all. I usually start about October, budgeting and making and planning the "perfect" gift. The most expensive thing I bought this year was a hard-cover book for my sister...but it wasn't just any book. She is an aspiring jeweler, and a metal artist. So I took pictures of every piece of hers I could find and used an online service to make it into an attractive "coffee table" book. Now she has something to show to potential clients (so it's practical, which is something I strive for in all my gifts) as well as a way to look back on her past work. :)
Another sister, I made her three aprons, and each one corresponded to a cookbook and a childhood memory...one is a 50's retro black-with-white polkdadots halter-top apron with a matching hair snug. I got her the "I Love Lucy" cookbook (for waaaaay below the listed price, on amazon.com) to go with that apron. We used to visit our Grandma overnight, and as we snuggled into sleep, we'd watch "I Love Lucy" reruns on "Nick At Night". :) I know she'll appreciate it.
I really hate the commercialism of "Christmas" as well. So while I love to give gifts and lots of them, I don't do it because I feel I HAVE to, nor do I blow huge chunks of our family's budget on the latest toys, fashion, and premade gift baskets of bath-and-body products that will never be used. I have a budget for it, certainly, but it's nothing that takes away from our normal family life. I prefer to make things, or give practical and meaningful gifts. I myself dislike receiving gifts for the sake of gifts...does that make sense? I don't want the $10 singing Rudolph you found at the last minute, I'd rather have nothing :P. So I figure, I better make sure that the things I give are at least wanted if not needed. :) I found a couple of movies on a super sale for my brother, that were movies we enjoyed watching together specifically when we were kids. That's not terribly practical, but I know he'll love it because of the meaning (and the movies aren't half-bad either). I figured that was better than buying him 1 movie that was the latest blockbuster.
Anyhoo...I'm rambling, but I just wanted to say that I appreciate your balanced view on gifts and Christmas, and mostly share it. :)
Crystal,
Merry Christmas to you and your family!! You are such a blessing to others through your website and blog...you are giving to others all year round...which is the true Spirit of Christmas!! Have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
Christy
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