Christmas Shopping

I was doing my semimonthly grocery shopping yesterday and found myself pulled in to the commericalism of Christmas.

This kind of thing bothers me!

We all know what the true meaning of Christmas is and yet we...maybe I should say I...find ourselves...er, myself...getting caught up in the music, the lights, the beautiful displays, the smells, the sales, and the excitement.

I struggled yesterday with wanting to do more for my children, to be able to reach out to those who don't have as much, to give more to those in my life. But the truth of the matter is I can't financially do all that my little heart wanted. I couldn't buy the cute stocking stuffers. I couldn't give more to a needy family. I couldn't buy that adorable gift set that a friend would have loved.

I had to find contentment in what we were able to do and find joy in knowing it was enough. Christmas isn't about how much you can do for others. It is about the one perfect gift sent to us by a gracious, merciful God.

I also had to think long and hard about my children. I don't want them to miss what Christmas is really about. How can I teach contentment, how to handle their money or about the birth of Christ if I buy everything on their wish list (and believe me those lists are long and hardly anything within my price range!)? Seems to me all lessons are lost if they are now the proud owners of everything their heart desires, Mom and Dad are in debt and Jesus is missing from the picture.

The giving and receiving, the parties, the baking, the decorating are all wonderfully fun and enjoyable. I believe God wants us to enjoy the celebration this day brings. I don't; however, believe God wants us to overextend, overindulge or more than anything miss His gift to us!

So while it was hard to walk away from some great deals yesterday, I was content to walk away and know it was enough and that this will be a very Merry Christmas indeed.