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Does the Christmas Season Feel Different to You This Year?
The headlines are filled with economic woe. We are
surrounded by uncertainty. Many are experiencing layoffs and reductions in
income. We are told almost instantaneously whether Black Friday or Cyber Monday
was successful or above or below projections. Bad news seems to travel even faster than good news. Any conversation that lasts more than five
minutes usually will pass through the waters of these troubled times we are presently
experiencing.
So I ask you, does the Christmas season feel different to
you this year? Does it seem that we are almost hesitant to celebrate in this
time of difficulty? Maybe we are disappointed that we cannot purchase the
number of gifts that we have previously, or they might not have the pizzazz
they once had. I know I felt that
way; however, as I thought about it more I was struck by the fact that if I do
feel that way I have really bought into the commercialization of
Christmas. In spite of my words
and my beliefs Christmas has moved to something different than I wanted it to
be. What I have been telling my
children and my grandchildren for all these years about Christmas is not really
matching my actions and clearly not my thoughts. Sadly, I must admit that Christmas has become driven by
economics in my life. Sure I still
will enjoy the time with family and the food and the fun very much, but when I
start to think about Christmas as being good or bad based upon my buying power
I really have missed the boat.
The practice of giving gifts should be a reflection or a
celebration of the fact that God gave us an unbelievable gift in the birth of
his son and for us to then offer a gift to others should be viewed as an act of
love and a physical demonstration of our care for the person. It’s an appreciation for who they are
and what they mean to us everyday, not just on Christmas. With that as a context I think this
year might be the perfect year to recapture the expressions of love that are to
be at the center of our Christmas season.
So this year, think about giving those things that are more
about who the person is in the eyes of God than about the list of wishes they
have for items they currently do not possess. Think about those gifts that you have received that you
really treasure. Those things that
were made by someone just for you are the things that you really value: a photo
album, CD, even a meal, or an article of clothing (well maybe that is a stretch). But you get the idea. You are then giving of yourself, not of
your means.
Or how about giving some one the gift of time? This does not need to be a huge event
or a five day trip that is planned from daybreak to sunset. It can be just spending time playing a
game, reading a book, telling a story, or just listening. Or taking someone to breakfast or lunch
as a gesture that you care about them, not that you want something from them.
It all sounds a bit corny doesn’t it? But I think we should try it. Not because we cannot afford to do
something else but because we can afford it and yet are choosing not to. This year might just provide us with
the window of opportunity to put the genuineness of the gift back into the
Christmas giving traditions. Showing
that you love those to whom you give gifts is really not about the number or
size of the gifts, it is about the thoughtfulness and personalization of a gift
that will keep on giving. After
all, God’s gift to me was what I needed, not what I wanted. Enjoy this time with family and friends
and let’s make this Christmas season feel different, not because of what we
cannot do but because of what we can do.
On behalf of the entire Holland Christian family, have a
very blessed Christmas and memorable New Year.
View all episodes
By Glenn VosThe headlines are filled with economic woe. We are
surrounded by uncertainty. Many are experiencing layoffs and reductions in
income. We are told almost instantaneously whether Black Friday or Cyber Monday
was successful or above or below projections. Bad news seems to travel even faster than good news. Any conversation that lasts more than five
minutes usually will pass through the waters of these troubled times we are presently
experiencing.
So I ask you, does the Christmas season feel different to
you this year? Does it seem that we are almost hesitant to celebrate in this
time of difficulty? Maybe we are disappointed that we cannot purchase the
number of gifts that we have previously, or they might not have the pizzazz
they once had. I know I felt that
way; however, as I thought about it more I was struck by the fact that if I do
feel that way I have really bought into the commercialization of
Christmas. In spite of my words
and my beliefs Christmas has moved to something different than I wanted it to
be. What I have been telling my
children and my grandchildren for all these years about Christmas is not really
matching my actions and clearly not my thoughts. Sadly, I must admit that Christmas has become driven by
economics in my life. Sure I still
will enjoy the time with family and the food and the fun very much, but when I
start to think about Christmas as being good or bad based upon my buying power
I really have missed the boat.
The practice of giving gifts should be a reflection or a
celebration of the fact that God gave us an unbelievable gift in the birth of
his son and for us to then offer a gift to others should be viewed as an act of
love and a physical demonstration of our care for the person. It’s an appreciation for who they are
and what they mean to us everyday, not just on Christmas. With that as a context I think this
year might be the perfect year to recapture the expressions of love that are to
be at the center of our Christmas season.
So this year, think about giving those things that are more
about who the person is in the eyes of God than about the list of wishes they
have for items they currently do not possess. Think about those gifts that you have received that you
really treasure. Those things that
were made by someone just for you are the things that you really value: a photo
album, CD, even a meal, or an article of clothing (well maybe that is a stretch). But you get the idea. You are then giving of yourself, not of
your means.
Or how about giving some one the gift of time? This does not need to be a huge event
or a five day trip that is planned from daybreak to sunset. It can be just spending time playing a
game, reading a book, telling a story, or just listening. Or taking someone to breakfast or lunch
as a gesture that you care about them, not that you want something from them.
It all sounds a bit corny doesn’t it? But I think we should try it. Not because we cannot afford to do
something else but because we can afford it and yet are choosing not to. This year might just provide us with
the window of opportunity to put the genuineness of the gift back into the
Christmas giving traditions. Showing
that you love those to whom you give gifts is really not about the number or
size of the gifts, it is about the thoughtfulness and personalization of a gift
that will keep on giving. After
all, God’s gift to me was what I needed, not what I wanted. Enjoy this time with family and friends
and let’s make this Christmas season feel different, not because of what we
cannot do but because of what we can do.
On behalf of the entire Holland Christian family, have a
very blessed Christmas and memorable New Year.