2008 Year in Review

Christmas Gifts

by Angie VanderVinne

Does preparing for Christmas stress you out? If so, you need to re-evaluate your approach to Jesus' birthday. Gifts, food, family, friends, and celebrations are good things, but let's make sure we don't forget Jesus in these good things. God does not condone excessive spending on gifts and certainly does not want us to incur debt to give gifts.

TV commercials, sale ads, email messages, and mall madness tempt us to spend, spend spend. Therefore, it's good to have a gift game plan and steer clear from impulse purchases. Also, don't worry about buying the perfect gift for someone. Jesus already gave us the perfect gift - our salvation. Instead, look for a gift that will warm someone's heart, make their life easier, or show them that you really know them. Because we all have too much “stuff” already, consider the gift of time or service- dinner and a movie with a twist: make someone their favorite meal and rent a movie they'd enjoy; provide free childcare for a couple to go on a date; clean someone's house or car; put on a show for grandparents and record it for a keepsake; modgepodge photos onto a bowl or flower pot and fill the bowl with baked goods or flower seeds. Also, don't be afraid to give a perfectly good gift that was pre-owned. Why do we think something has to be in store packaging for someone to enjoy? There are lots of pre-owned toys and movies that kids would love and not know a bit of difference that they were pre-owned.

The point is Christmas isn't about how much money you spend, it's about love: God's love for us, our love for others. Merry Christmas and God Bless!

by  Editor, theCity1.com
December 15, 2008