Halloween is over, which nowadays means that stores, malls and gas stations are decorating for Christmas. I'm pretty sure the mall is not just trying to make the blessed advent season more meaningful for the general public. Instead, retailers market the message that Christmas is about stuff. Lots and lots of stuff. Buy enough stuff and spend enough money, and the magical meaning of Christmas will materialize in your lap and you can put it in a fruitcake for your neighbor. Christmas has become a frenzied, stressful, selfish holiday that puts millions of American in serious debt.
Christmas now looks nothing like the first Christmas. The first celebration of Christmas happened in a dirty stable, with smelly animals and a teenage couple living just above the poverty line. Hope entered the world, not with tinsel, a collection of Santa Claus statues, snowmen, or mechanical reindeer, but in the form of a helpless baby.
This year, I'm putting my foot down. And, so is my church. Check out this video and join me. Overlake is challenging it's people to BUY ONE LESS GIFT and donate the money to world AIDS relief. ONE LESS GIFT. Personally, I'm going to buy a lot less gifts. And, if you're planning on buying for me, DON'T. I don't need any more socks, slippers, or gift cards to Starbucks. I want the babies I'm visiting in South Africa this December to have treatment for HIV, books, toys and families.
that is freakin awesome! I love it! I just sent the link to my hubby and another pastor at our church. Such a GREAT idea!!!
ReplyDeletebeyond the message (you know i've bought in)... who made that? it is SO well done!!! awesome video.
ReplyDeleteHi Jodie, I frequent your blog. I love your writings, I love your insight, I love your stories and I love your heart! This was an amazing video ... well done! I think I am going to pass it on. I love the Advent Conspiracy! Count me in! Please give my love to your family. I miss you, but I love to get mini snapshots of your thoughts and heart through your blog. Keep it up. BTW, sorry about the lice ... uggg!!!
ReplyDeleteI hope I draw your name this year!!! (kidding!) Actually, I am asking our family to donate a pint of blood rather than buy be any birthday or Christmas gifts. I made 12 appointments the day after Thanksgiving (my b-day) for all of us. I feel the same way. I am blessed already. A few presents under a tree does not change how I feel. Let's motivate the rest of the family!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBecky
i posted the video yesterday too. we must have had the same thing on the brain yesterday: giving, and the kids we'll see and ...
ReplyDeleteGreat post Jodie, and timely. So much money is spent on gift-giving. And people get so busy running around buying gifts that they miss out on simply enjoying and celebrating the season. For me the true meaning of Chrismas is spending time with cherished friends and family and sharing good food and drink. I don't buy gifts for anyone aside from immediate family (husband, sons, mother and parents-in-law). And I do not send Christmas cards. This saves time and money which I spend instead on making some phone calls, glass of wine in hand to wish a good friend or a sibling afar a very, Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the shot in the arm. I needed that!
ReplyDeleteLove it--I'm in for sure!! I know I have way too much stuff--my garage is shrinking again!! I would send this on--if I knew how!! Maybe someone will give me some personal computer lessons for Christmas!
ReplyDeleteAmen !! It has been our tradition to only get the kids 3 gifts. It was what baby Jesus got, and so what our childent get. Therefore, they must really think long and hard what they truly want and not just babble on and on about what they "want" on an endless list.
ReplyDeletei know i am trying to insist with my family we do a homemade gift exchange and donate our time and money to those in need. i agree christmas shouldn't be about how much we can buy for someone.
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