If you read one blog commentary about Christmas this year, make this it. Jen always keeps things real, doesnt condemn, but speaks Truth. I always struggle this time of year as my inner soul and longing is to celebrate with authenticity and simplicity the true meaning of the season. Then, every year I get sucked in to consumerism, keeping up with the Jones if you will. I feel guilted into participating in a vicious cycle of materialism, greed, overabundance and often exploitation of others (think slave labor making all our pretty little things we buy). Not this year. I am going to be praying fiercely against guilt and pressure in my life. I am going to embrace Truth that I know and rest in convictions. I am going to use this season of financial drought God has allowed into our lives as a reason to end the cycle rather than contribute to it by overspending money we dont have and giving our kids stuff they dont need. Before anyone thinks Im Scrooge or a Grinch (a favorite Christmas movie of mine by the way), we are still giving gifts. Some simple gifts to our children. Shea and I arent giving each other gifts because frankly we NEED nothing yall. You realize that when you move. Good grief. For our kids, we are borrowing this idea from Jen Hatmaker: Four years ago, we started this gift-giving policy for each kid: Something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read. Thats it. We will, instead, be focusing on giving to others outside of our immediate family. Giving gifts of time, creativity, love and meeting genuine needs in those we encounter. We are going to dwell on and experience with our kids. The Season and celebrating its true meaning...Not because we are righteous or feel it is the superior noble thing to do either. We are doing it out of personal conviction because not to feels so wrong in our own hearts.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Dec 2013 13:19:26 +0000
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