But what about Christmas?

This morning browsing around Facebook, I saw a friend's post commenting on how she is broke. I believe she said negatively broke.

That's an interesting thought--we have times financially (and emotionally, perhaps) when we are positively negatively broke!

I just re-read "Hundred Dollar Holiday" recently. It's an interesting little book written by a Methodist man who got together with friends a long time ago (the book is published in 1998, I think) and rethought how they celebrated Jesus' birthday.

Christmas in today's world puts so many unfair, unrealistic expectations on us. It's a greedy grab-fest, pay now, think later, pay later, pay more later!

But as the author Bill McKibben said, What about that first Christmas?

Think about it--been to the mall recently? Garish and/or pretty decorations, useless gadgets, longed-for material bliss on sale now!

Now imagine the scene in the stable--stinky hay, cow plops, sheep, a crude wooden stable, cold Israel evening, messy afterbirth, but two very blessed new parents holding the very Son of God in their arms and loving Him and His father who gave Him to them.

What on earth made us go from that to Money-Mart-made Christmas 2009?

The gift most people need (aside from an improved economy and more financial stability) is TIME, RELATIONSHIP, love... We need to care for the world we live in, putting resources back into the earth, not piling up plastic packaging and clinging to idols that might interfere in our time with God, with family and friends.

Did God mean for us to have a self-serve holiday? What about the homeless? What about the hurting?

I'm rethinking Christmas, too. I'm not above longing for diamonds and dressy new clothes. But I'd far rather enjoy the sparkle in a little one's eyes as they learn the real meaning of Christmas. Time to relax with family by the fireplace. Time for solitude reading the Bible or a good book. Time to write. Those are the gifts that don't fit under the tree but mean the most to me.

Our first daughter was born 18 days before Christmas. That year brought a whole new perspective on Mary for me...pondering things in her heart, treasuring this new life entrusted to her care.

It's hard to put it into words and maybe I'll make some time to write it out more succinctly this season.

But for now, I'm just thankful for such a Saviour and such a precious gift as Jesus throughout every season of life!