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Barb
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Are We Cheating Ourselves Out of Christmas?
2 stars|2 comments|November 19, 2008|83 reads
 
Every year most of us think that next year we aren't going to let ourselves get so stressed out schedule-wise, and every year most of us find that once again we're caught in the same ol' trap.  Some of us feel a huge obligation to bake and shop; others of us are pressured into attending more than our share of school or work meetings and, yes, the dreaded office parties!  At our house, my hubby and I are constantly bombarded with requests for seasonal musical entertainment.  (He sings, I play instruments.)

True, there are lots of people who have legitimate ongoing physical, family and/or work demands and deadlines.  Maybe some have just lost a loved one or a job and are not looking forward to the holidays at all.  Many-many-many people are hurting... 

OK.  So now this year I wonder if it might be possible for anybody reading this to join me in mustering up a new resolve to try to make some changes that will allow us to focus more fully on what Christmas is really about.  Maybe we can start small and work from there.  Hey, it's worth a try.

God wrapped Himself in swaddling clothes and came to deliver inner peace to us.  Christmas is about relationships, not material goods.  Whadayasay we all try to take time to help somebody who seems to have no reason to celebrate the season?  Can we be more generous, more kind, and more willing to pray for somebody else who may have lost hope along the way?

I personally want to keep the main thing the main thing.  And not just in December. 

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Patrick
 Patrick
November 19, 2008
Wonderful post!

I am focused on two things this year:

I am letting every merchant I shop at know that they will not keep my business if I don't see and hear 'Christmas' rather than 'Happy Holidays'.  This is a simple example of how the silent majority (Christians of every denomination) can begin to reverse the trend in this country to take Christ out of our lives.

We recently moved to our new home and found a local senior center that is need of help.  We are trying to raise enough funds to do a really special Christmas celebration with these folks.  Most are 70+, most are living alone, and other than the senior center for a couple of hours a day Mon-Fri, most have little interaction beyond that group.  My wife has really gotten involved on a day-to-day basis and we took our boys over one day when they were out of school to play bingo with them and socialize.  They are a wonderful and spiritual group and my boys will be better in years to come from sharing time with them.

In terms of activities, we don't participate in too many other than church events.  Simple is better in so many ways!

Thanks for Sharing...and God Bless,
pa 
Barb
 Barb
November 21, 2008
Thanks for the response Patrick.  My husband and I have lived in a retirement community for almost 40 years.  No, we're not that old!  :-)    As 30-somethings we were led and commissioned to serve here as UM Home Missionaries, raised our family here on campus, and it has been a true blessing.  Through the years the elderly people ages 65 up to 106 have taught us many valuable lessons just by the way they've lived their lives.  I know that you and your wife will be blessed and will also be a blessing to that part of society that so many people neglect.