we put up some very simple and unbreakable decorations to honor this wonderful season when our Lord put on our flesh to be born, live, and then die in our place. i know that stockings and Christmas trees don't have a direct relationship to Christ's birth, but i do love the story of st nick and his generosity. i also love that we can be festive and honor this season by enjoying it well, loving others well, and simply celebrating. i definitely want to make a jesse tree one day. i think marit might understand some next year so maybe that can be my 2010 project. i think hers turned out beautifully! and i love that it ties all the old-testament prophecies together. this year though we are sticking to understanding and learning the nativity and what that means. marit has been ceaslessly playing with our little nativity scene that is (ahem) indeed breakable. i'm waiting on a fabric one to come in the mail so she can act it out with more enthusiasm. we will stuff stockings with simple things and this year we are buying a few small gifts and here is where i feel conflicted. i think how this family celebrates by giving to the least of these is wonderful. we do give to others throughout the year, but i would love to make the connection that giving to those in need honors God and is in effect a gift to the baby born in Bethlehem so long ago. but, is it bad that i LOVE to give and receive gifts? we are not in desperate need for anything...we have food and shelter and each other, but adam needs some new socks. my kids have many more toys than they need, but i have a few things tucked away that will be a joy to give them (art supplies and things). what are your thoughts on gift-giving? any creative ideas for giving to others in this sweet season?
2 comments:
I think the decision to forgo family gift-giving altogether is much like any other decision that is not specifically outlined in Scripture. There is certainly no one right answer for everyone, but there is a right answer for every family. :)
We are thankful and blessed in that we certainly don't *need* anything (nor do the children), but we love to give! I have an ornament that says, "We give our best at Christmas, because that's what God gave to us." It's a little cheesy, but sweet. And it's our hearts in giving to one another. I may have mentioned that we limit our giving to one common gift, and 3 small individual ones; a friend of mine has shared a great guideline for children: 4 items - want, need, wear, and read. I don't know how they go about giving to spouses, but we do exchange gifts.
I keep trying to stress to WM about how we are GIVING gifts, because God GAVE to us in Christmas. I can't wait to take him shopping ($5 limit apiece) for his Daddy and little sister. :)
And, on Christmas Day, we have our special breakfast, special family worship time, and then get online, with the kids in our laps, and give birthday gifts to Jesus through "Gospel for Asia." Then we go to a nursing home to spend time with folks, but we can't do that this year because of the flu. :( Last year, we didn't even exchange our own gifts until after naptime. We were trying to impress on the children the importance of "JOY": Jesus first, others second, yourself last.
This is long enough to be a blog by itself, but this is what we do, and that is (sort of) what you asked! :) I would just encourage you to seek the face of God and where He would lead your family. There is certainly nothing inherently wrong in giving gifts to one another, but it can be so easy to get sucked into the commercialism of it all. I feel keenly that I am having to decide daily to intentionally fight it this year, particularly in regards to our parents and extended families.
it seems as though giving/not giving gifts can become a distraction from the gift-giver Himself. We are learning that as with all other things, it's a matter of the heart. And what you make what you put most effort towards at home is the exact thing that will become a priority. So whether that "thing" is santa and presents and such or giving with humble hearts (even to one another in love and simplicity)the priority will shine through either as rubbish or as "much pure gold". Both you and Adam have such beautiful, giving, hearts and there's no doubt that you are making Jesus the priority in your home during Christmas (and all year round!) I wouldn't feel guilty over giving gifts. I think giving is beautiful and being recipients teaches us something about gratitude and humility. We were blessed with the presence of our homeless friend last year on Christmas morning whom we got to share breakfast with and give gifts to. As is always the case, I think we received the greater blessing of knowing him and getting to love and serve him. He asked to return this year and we look forward to sharing another Christmas morning with him. We always pray every year for the Lord to show us one person/family that we can "give" to. And then we dig deep into our own need, to seek to be a blessing to others in hopes that they might know the Christ child who was born that they might have life. Hope this helps...
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