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Better to love God and die unknown than to love the world and be a hero; better to be content with poverty than to die a slave to wealth; better to have taken some risks and lost than to have done nothing and succeeded at it. -erwin lutzer
Friday, November 27, 2009
New Traditions
A year ago we made a weird and maybe even a little bit unpopular decision. We did not buy our children, extended family, friends anything for Christmas. We made a decision and we gave it a try. We have toys, we all have clothes. We have been blessed. The kids get birthday gifts and surprise small treats throughout the year. Kind people bring us goodies to Haiti fairly often. The great need is not here. Not at our house.
In truth, we'd rather our loved ones feel no pressure at all to get anything for us or our kids for Christmas.
Of course there are many times when a gift is an act of sacrificial love, and is given from the heart - we've received that from others and we hope we do that FOR others whenever the Spirit leads us ... we're not talking about never giving gifts. It is not that at all. We're talking about the gifts that we all buy because we are "supposed to" and because our consumer driven culture might tell us we have to do it.
A friend said, "That is sad that your kids don't get gifts on Christmas morning." I don't know if it is sad or not, but we've decided we're done with commercialism-Christmas-as-usual and we're going to continue on in the spirit of new traditions again this year.
Last year we took our kids to a hotel for one night and they loved it. We enjoyed family time and enjoyed the gift of each others company. We had a blast. This year we will do the same thing after Britt and Chris arrive.
We will still give gifts in honor of the people we love - but instead the gifts will be received by the people that need the things.
Advent Conspiracy’s job is to help you do Christmas in a way that is personal, and one big way to make it personal is to support an organization that you feel God is placing on your heart.
You can choose what fits for you and your new traditions. Maybe it is not an all or nothing thing, maybe it is a decision to be more aware of wants vs. needs. Maybe some purchases this time of year are only out of habit and obligation. Maybe it is simply something to give further consideration.
"Christmas was meant to change the world. It still can. Worship more. Spend less. Give more. Love all."
-advent conspiracy
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7 comments:
I love it Tara....we are also trying to change traditions...and hope others will climb on board. This morning as my daughter opened her 2 very small gifts(it's her birthday)...wrapped in construction paper (I had nothing else)... she was thrilled, but I thought how much my friends and family would disagree with me back in America. She loved the gifts, but she has more excitement about the treat and soda we bought and will share with her orphan friends today. Celebrating Jesus in Ehiopia!!!
Hi Kelly -
Not many comments come infrom Africa :) ... very good to hear from you.
Keep the faith and keep showing love in Ethiopia! I am so glad you commented. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Tara
AMEN!!! I pray that these sentiments seep into our consumerism soaked American culture.
Today is "Black Friday" in the US. How sick is it that an entire nation creates a holiday around spending money we often don't have on things we most often don't need or even particularly want.
Christmas decorations have been up and carols playing in stores since before the end of October. And none of it has anything to do with the real meaning of Christmas - the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ.
It's very sad and maybe explains a lot about the situation our country is in.
I like this :-) How much more would be actually enjoy the season if we were so concerned about spending money...and I love the idea of using that money to bless someone else...sounds like Jesus to me! Terry
Patrick and I have been NOT-gift giving since our earliest years... We joke its because we are too lazy to shop, but truely there is just nothing we NEED... because lets face it, if we need something we don't wait 6 months for a holiday to roll around. :) But man the memories we've made with experiences shared together in light of the celebration... or the things we've learned about in trying to also give in honor.
I love your family tradition. We too, hope to have smiliarly box-less and meaning-full holdiay traditions.
So I guess the jig is up and y'all know that I'm a regular Livesay lurker. :) I spent some time in Haiti when I was 18 and it still has a special place in my heart. I love reading about your lives - your blessings and your struggles. (Not saying I enjoy your struggles. That came out wrong!) They all are a challenge for me to live up to my calling in Christ.
I love the idea of the Advent Conspiracy and we are doing much the same thing in our family as you do in yours. We're still giving gifts to our son (we only have one child so far!) but everyone else we are asking them to donate in our name to a charity or individual in need. So much closer to the real meaning of Christmas!!!
Amen!!! Looking forward to celebrating the real meaning of Christmas this year without all the 'stuff'.
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