This Christmas, Brandon and I decided to simplify and scale back on our normal gift giving and holiday activities. We want to focus on giving to those with less than us instead of loading down our already blessed family with more stuff that we don't need.Every year I look forward to Christmas, and the meaning quickly gets lost in the stress--oh the stress! Self-imposed stress, triggered by a compulsion I have to decorate my house and tree and car (ok maybe not the car part) and bake and buy and wrap and dress everyone in beautiful clothing. These are all things I love! I enjoy baking and dipping lots of sweet goodies and making my house look festive and shopping for fun toys and wrapping beautiful packages of things that I will have forgotten a year from now. But after many years of doing these things, I am realizing that these activities, if they don't draw us closer to Jesus and to each other, are crap! Totally meaningless time-filling, pound-gaining, self-centered, empty fluff. It's pretty much like stuffing myself with the marshmallows love so dearly but don't help me out too much.
So, as much as is possible in our crazy suburban life, we are trying to scale back. This year I only made two kinds of treats instead of 17. I got my shopping done early, which is a first, partly because our shopping budget was much smaller, and Brandon and I are only giving each other stocking stuffers. The kids are getting 2 gifts apiece and we also did simple or no gifts for family members and friends. We have continually reminded the kids what we are celebrating and talked about giving. Asher took his full piggy bank to Living Water so kids could have clean water.
I must admit all of this was tough at first. It has been hard not to just focus on what we're cutting out or even be prideful that we are doing so good with what we have. It's also been amazing because I actually have a little time to reflect and enjoy my husband and kids. I still struggle keeping my eyes on the Lord and will until the day I die. But hopefully every little change we make will draw us a little nearer to our Savior.
Tonight as we go to our Christmas Eve service, I hope and pray that we are all freed up to really feel God's presence.
4 comments:
Sarah Beth- What a great, heart filled post. I am totally with you on the Christmas spirit--home, baking, wrapping, etc. It can consume you! Great job on teaching your childrens about giving. God gave us Jesus! Something I look forward to, when we have kids. :)
Great thoughts and ideas here SB, I commend you both! I completely agree with what you are saying and think it's great! It takes a lot of strength!
We miss you guys, you all look so great!
Hey Sarah Beth...first of all great to see you, on the blog anyways, and second...that is a gorgeous picture of you and your family! Ok, to the point...Yes! Amen! How did we Christians allow this season to get so out of control?!!! I just don't know. We did the no gifts thing to friends and family one year, and I loved it...but, I didn't so much like receiving gifts from them, just cause, well, I felt cheap. I am just waiting for the day that our entire family just says, "Hey, let's not worry about presents this year and just enjoy each other and our Savior!"
Thanks for the post!
Yes ... Awsome blog Sarah Beth! A good lead for your children to understand it's not all about gifts! I liked the part about Asher saving his money for living water...I'll have to remember that next christmas for my boys!
Cheers!
-Terri
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