Tis the Season

The Godhead had so much love inside it's community that it overflowed into creation and into us, whether we are believers or not. So full of Love in fact, that despite the fact that creation turned away, Love still overflowed.

There is a lot of controversy about the consumerism of the Christmas season in the Christian communities across the nation. Rightly so, it is easier and easier each year to loose sight of the real meaning of Christmas. So let me take you inside my head as I stroll the hallways of the mall decked out with holiday sales and as I dash off here and there to get everything done.

I am overjoyed as I walk the mall, Don is too, as we shop for Christmas. We realize that have been given the greatest gift of all - that Love is still in the Trinity and that that love overflows into our lives, and thankfully in the same way, the lives of many of those around us. We give - and we are so happy and grateful to give - in remembrance of that gift.

I know that as I walk the mall, I think about what these people on my list mean to me and what I think they would like. The gifts I purchase are not simply empty items on the list they've given me, but they are things that I have seen and thought of them. Out of this, my love for them over flows and is seen, hopefully. It is the idea that I thought of them as I purchased and gave them that gift.

I do that because I believe as Christ hung dying on the cross and purchased our gift of everlasting life, that is what he thought of.

I have friends that are relatively relentless about their disgust over commercialism during December. I have friends that are frustrated that they are no longer wished a 'Merry Christmas'. I have friends that probably refuse to give gifts on Christmas day. I fit into some of those categories but I think that in the protest of the traditions (both pagan and not) they also loose sight of the opportunity to give. We have a great opportunity that the world has presented us with. This is the season of giving, no matter what we call it. As Christians, let us talk openly with those around us about that tradition, the tradition of giving.

And just to be transparent, Don and I save all year to give during this season and throughout the year, not including the tithe that we give weekly. We also spend less than 10% of that on giving gifts to ourselves.