We like to think if we try really hard we can make Christmas about Jesus, which might be true, but doing so would mean not giving gifts to our loved ones but to people we don't like or who don't like us (Matt 5:43-48). It would mean spending the day serving people in need, not giving over priced electronics to ungrateful children. And to be honest I am not sure most of us are really ready to do that. Most of us sadly cannot be bothered to donate gifts to needy families because we have other places to spend our money. To me this would be making Christmas about Jesus. Instead the holiday is about spending more money than we should on things that we think others want and not need (we need food, water, and shelter- not an Ipod touch or a blue ray player). I don't want to sound as if I don't adore the needless gadget (because I do!!) but I also am under no illusion that I NEED these things. My point is Christmas becomes this month of over stimulation and over spending that leads to a stressed out gathering of family. One in which you awkwardly exchange candles or body soap with the cousin who you really don't know or care for, but feel obligated to bring something for...happy birthday Jesus!
It may just be my family but there is always so much pressure surrounding Christmas, not just about gift giving, but about who we see, when we see them, and balancing that can be overwhelming. There are parts of Christmas I do enjoy, family gatherings that are easy and not stressful, watching the little ones open gifts, my brothers eggnog waffles ...these are the best parts! But what makes Thanksgiving so much better in my mind is that it is a day that is about eating and being thankful! No gifts, no obligations, just food...yummy yummy food and an awareness of how lucky we all really are! It is a day where we spend time just being with each other, laughing, telling stories, eating, and relaxing, all with an attitude of gratefulness.
I think by its very nature, Thanksgiving is more of Christian holiday than Christmas. It is the holiday that forces us to reflect on what we have and take a posture of thankfulness. We do not worry about what we are getting or giving, our main focus is enjoying a meal with those we love and reflecting on the blessings in our lives. And if we are really honest, our blessings are not things, not our houses, cars, tvs or video game collections. Our blessing are those people we are surrounded by- our loved ones. I hope as we take the big turn into the madness of the Christmas season, we can all remember that we are so very blessed not by what we have but by who we have.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
0 comments:
Post a Comment