Jess: Wes and I
have been spending a lot of time talking about Christmas this year. We wrote a
blog a couple of years ago about Christmas (http://themetheranlife.blogspot.com/2011/12/love-came-down-at-christmas.html#comment-form).
I knew things would change when we had kid(s), but I never realized just how
different it would be.
Last year, James
was just barely a month old at Christmas. We had assumed he would be late, and
therefore would arrive just a week or so before Christmas. I had SO many people
ask what we were getting James for Christmas, and I was kind of offended.
Wasn’t LIFE good enough for a month-old baby? What would even be the point of
wrapping something for him?
This year, things
are a little different. James kind of understands the concept of opening a
present. He kind of has fun doing so. And yet, his present from us has
been open and used for almost two weeks now, and I never wrapped it to start
with. There is a lot of pressure on us to do these big things for James’
birthdays and Christmas, yet he honestly doesn’t care. We joked about wrapping
a box, because that’s all he cares about.
The whole
Christmas-present discussion is a can of worms. Of course we want to get things
for our child, but we do that on a regular basis. I certainly don’t want to
raise a kid who thinks he’s entitled to presents. I also don’t want to raise a
child who thinks his behavior is being monitored by a creepy elf who reports to
an old fat guy, either. I want James to truly appreciate what he is given, to
recognize that he is privileged far beyond most children in the world, and to
want to help others rather than be greedy.
Perhaps this is a
lot to ask of my child—certainly it is too much right now. But one day he will
understand this gift giving and receiving thing. One day he will learn more
about the rest of the world. One day he will find out that Santa is a concept,
not a person.
We have a lot of
things to work out regarding Christmas, and thankfully, James is too young to
care right now. Santa or no Santa? Lots of presents or just one? How will he
give presents? Should we have a Christmas tradition of helping rather than hoarding? Obviously, with Wes
and I both being pastors, Christmas is going to look very different in our home
than in James’ friends’ homes. I’m kind of glad for that. Maybe we’ll take
advantage of how different it already is and remember to make Christmas about what
it’s really supposed to be: the birth of Jesus, who came into the world, died,
and was raised again for the sake of all people. What other gift do we really
need?
Wes: First, a confession: It is my
fault that we haven’t posted anything in a while. Jess keeps sending me blogs,
and I keep putting them aside and not doing anything with them. Like she writes
her entire part, and then I do… nothing. Sorry, friends. I let you down.
Now: Christmas. I
love Christmas. I love celebrating the birth of Christ with my friends and
family. I love the winter wonderland (even sans snow). I love the cheer.
I still think it’s
magical to open up presents and to see what others have thought were the
perfect gifts for me. I love even more seeing the looks on my loved ones’ faces
when they open my gifts and I know immediately that yes, I did find the perfect
gift for them (I wish this one happened more often).
But wow if we
haven’t turned Christmas into a gluttonous thing! It’s like that scene from the
first Harry Potter book/movie, when Dudley gets all of those presents—and
demands another when he counts and doesn’t have enough—and Harry… gets… nothing.
We spend
sooooooooooooo much money on gifts, food for feasts, travel to get places, etc…
and yet, rarely do we do much anything for those truly in need. Yeah, sure,
donations and giving to charity go up during the Christmas season, and yeah,
not all of it is because of that bell ringer staring guilt into your eyes as
you leave Target, but it’s not near enough.
And I’m not saying
I do this all right, either. I bought too many presents and received too many
present. I used the cash gifts I was given—I’ll admit it, those are my
favorite—to get more stuff.
As good ol’ Relient
K once sang, “I’m part of the problem, I confess, but I gotta get this off my
chest.”
We hear so many
people of faith throughout our nation ready to complain about how the secular
world has ruined Christmas, how atheists are bringing the downfall of this
wonderful holiday, etc… But I have to wonder how many of my brothers and
sisters join me every year in catering to that commercialization. How many of
us spend our money on decorations, holiday-themed clothing, gifts, and so much
more as a way to honor our the birth of our Lord
when what would really honor Jesus Christ would be to feed
the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless, and visit the sick and the
imprisoned?
Sadly, that doesn’t
sound like our “ideal way” to celebrate Christmas to me…
Merry Christmas,
World Wide Web.
