I spent Saturday by myself. That doesn't happen very often. I asked Kyle if he would take the kids with him to Blackwell. He was going to hunt so I thought if I could get them to go along (not to hunt, just hang out with the grandparents), I could get all kinds of things accomplished!
And that I did. I started and finished my Christmas shopping in one mighty sweep across 71st Street. God also got something accomplished. He opened my eyes to the shopping madness and made me realize I want no part of it.
God has really been working on my heart with Christmas. As I was dodging in and out of aisles at Toys R Us, I overhead several hateful comments between husbands and wives. At the mall, I listened as a lady yelled at her kid to shut up and if he didn't she was going to find a belt and whip his butt. Seriously. You could just see the stress oozing out of people. All the expectations. All of the money.
As I was filling my cart up with toys my kids don't need, I had the urge to put everything back. What am I doing? We don't need this stuff. We can't afford this stuff. But what would happen on Christmas morning when there was nothing? Hayes wouldn't understand. So there's this battle going on inside of me. I want to shower my kids with gifts but I want to be strong and act on God's urges.
I'm seeking his direction in how to teach my children the true meaning of Christmas. I want them to have giving and generous hearts. My hope is that one day, they will genuinely want to give instead of receive. Is that an unrealistic goal for kids?
Changes will need to be made. And some have already been made this year. Because we have no other choice financially, there won't be as much. But I'm learning that is a blessing. However, I don't want money to be the reason that stuff doesn't fill up our Christmas. I want it to be the fact that we get it and fill up Christmas with family, giving and celebrating the birthday of this little baby that came down from heaven.
I ran across this. When you really think about what Christmas has come to, can't you just feel God's heart aching? You know he's thinking, "They just don't get it. I gave them the most precious gift and here we are..."
9 tellin' me what I want to hear!:
WOW! You are so right! Thanks for this reminder and all the others you have been sending our way!
Your blog site is touching many hearts and also helping those searching for answers. God has a purpose....
I'm glad I'm not the only one who gets that kinda sick feeling when it comes to Christmas and the gluttony of it. It's a great feeling to see the smiles on Christmas morning when the kids open ALL their presents, but it's a sick feeling when they don't play with them after a week knowing that their are little children who got NOTHING for Christmas. I go through this every year when I'm wrapping the presents. Do they need all this STUFF that will eventually lie under a bed or end up in a garage sale?
This is exactly what my heart is dealing with this year. If you get a chance, stop by my Christmas Presence post today. I have been really moved by Advent Conspiracy.
I am struggling and working to keep my kids from getting wrapped up in the materialistic part of Christmas. It is very hard. I do believe that my efforts will pay off-- even if it isn't this year. They will get it in the long run if we live that way. That's my prayer, anyway.
I hear ya! It is hard to have little kids understand all this. We aren't buying our kids any toys for Christmas this year. Not for some moral reason, but because we literally do not have a dime left for toys. The grandparents are sending plenty, so I didn't see a need to buy more. And couldn't even if I wanted to. And I made the presents for family, so the cost was pretty minimal. And as we were decorating the tree, Daven said this would be the best Christmas ever because daddy would be home. Puts in perspective for me. I didn't spend any of our own money for Calet's birthday either. Sigh. I hate being so poor.
I am so PROUD of you, girl. It makes my heart sick to the commercialism that has taken over! God Bless You for making all of think about the REAL meaning and the GREATEST gift!
Loved your blog Trisha. I am SO glad that you had some time alone. I only have one and it's hard to find that much needed time...I can't imagine with 3! Tell Minnie hi for me =)
Ohh, Trisha! This post is so what I am feeling this year. We, too, are mighty strapped for cash. I've shared with you our 3 gift Christmas, when those 3 are opened...that's it. When reading this, all I thought was Linneus telling the Christmas story straight at of Luke and saying, "that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."
I've struggled with this for years and our kids growing up found out about Santa early because I was so convicted about him taking Christ's place. Now, I love giving gifts and we have the money to do it, but I know I get carried away. I work really hard to help our poverty families at school get gifts for Christmas but what they really need is the greatest gift of Christ.
You nailed it sister! As we enter this thing called "parenthood" I too like you want to make sure Jesus stays the reason for this season with little Jude. I know we have a ways to go, but I think we should start planning now. Remember Brad and Nicole Church? They have a neat holiday tradition I just might adopt. Each child gets three christmas presents just as Jesus did from the three wise men. Let me just say...I'm so blessed to have a sister in law that is so caring, thoughtful and tenderhearted! You inspire me. I love you!
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