We are in the holiday season now and people are spending 100’s if not 1000’s of dollars on each person in their family. I think this is absolutely ludicrous. There really is no reason to go into debt for Christmas or any other holiday. Honestly, it is not about the gifts, but about the love that you express. Sure the kids love opening the presents, but ask them in a year what they got last Christmas and most of them will have no clue. If they had a bad Christmas, then they will definitely remember. So this season, buy your children that one special gift and call it a day, but try not to spend anymore than about $300 to $400. Instead, show your children that you love them throughout the year.
We have become a nation of “Just say Yes” to our family members, especially our children whether we can afford the gifts or not or if the even deserve it. Sometimes the best thing you can say to your children or others is no, but it seems like we are trying to keep a good image with our kids, other family members, neighbors, and even people we do not know. Then we have the kids asking the question of did I do something wrong? Why didn’t Santa bring me all the gifts that so and so got? I know they will be upset for a bit, but lets get real, they will get over it. In fact, they will remember this for a bit, but I would venture to guess that they will get over it very quickly especially if you just explain why.
This seems to all have started in the 60’s, but I could be wrong and I am not really sure why. Sure I could blame Satan, but that really is not taking responsibility. To me we have been duped by big business into thinking that we need to spend all of this money at Christmas time to make us feel special and to express our love to our family. This simply not true.
This Christmas, instead of thinking of yourself, try thinking of others and their most basic needs. There are 1000’s upon 1000’s of people out there that need help with food, shelter, clothing, jobs. These people typically feel that they are not loved and that no one really cares what happens to them. The greatest gift you can give to them is to show them that they are loved.
We need to remember the reason for the season and that is the birth of Jesus Christ. Christ did not come here for us treat Him as a king and to lavish Him with extravagant gifts, but rather to show us how we are to live and to provide a means for us to be saved. The greatest gift was not a Nintendo, PS4, XBoxOne, TV, Car, Laptop/Computer, or any other materialistic item, but Jesus coming to die for your sins so you can be saved. I really need you to take a step back and think about that for a bit.