Who's Birthday?

Its a few days to Christmas and unlike all the other past years my house is still not looking dressed for the festive season at all. I'll put it down to having been so occupied with the events of the last three months.....moving continents, two funerals, house hunting plus furnishing the house, homeschooling, getting acquainted with the new area,birthdays.....I'm sure the picture is clearly painted so I can stop there. Today it came as a bit of a 'surprise' that we are this close to Christmas.

The question that I've been toying with today though, is whether or not to get shiny tinsel, lights , a tree and all the works (since I threw all the other ones out before we left Australia)? My kids are used to having the decorations and its become a tradition.Thankfully traditions can be broken and replaced because somehow,this year I cant help but wonder what the real connection between Jesus' birthday, trees and tinsel is? Blame it on the tiredness but I've been struggling to find the link that brings them together.In fact I think I might just have the 'Santa Claus' discussion with my kids and dispel the myth altogether(gasp!). After all, if we are celebrating Jesus' birthday ,'I love Jesus' t-shirts should be on high demand. At the moment I see a lot of 'I love Santa' on a lot of items. It seems Santa has stolen the show. Maybe that's why he does that 'ho ho ho' laugh. If Jesus made an appearance at a Christmas event alongside Santa, I wonder if the people would even recognize Him or would they just go wild for Santa at 'Jesus' own birthday'?

I do enjoy the festivities that surround this time of the year, the spirit of giving and add on to that the massive sales too just after the celebrations but is it all still just about Jesus or is it simply a holiday season of merriment and joy as people connect, recharge and party in preparation for the new year ahead?

For business owners if the year has been a slow one, Christmas time gives you one more chance to 'make it' before the year is up. In fact its such a lucrative time for businesses that some of them literally start advertising for the next year's Christmas presents just as you are still picking out the turkey (or king prawn if you are in Australia) remains from your teeth. What is Christmas and what does it mean to you? At this time of the year its almost inevitable that there'll always be crowds as people scurry around to do their last minute shopping. Interestingly, I have seen people carrying loads of festive goodies but looking so exhausted,stressed and not so 'festive' themselves!

Is this what Christmas is all about? Stress from the hustle and bustle of shopping (for necessary and oh so not necessary stuff),or the 'BIG SALE' adverts that are unavoidable every day of the holiday season.....junk mail,tv, on radio you name it. OR is it a time of reconnecting and enjoying family time as we celebrate the birth of our Savior?

Some children are literally drowned in presents (they have toys coming right up to their ears!) while the parents on the other hand drown themselves in debt which they'll spend the following year trying to clear and stressing over the debt .What are we teaching our children? Do they really need that many 'things' to keep them entertained and make them feel loved and special? Theres nothing wrong with buying gifts for our kids of course but it becomes worrying when that is the main expression of our love for them. What are they learning from these' love expressions'? I remember when I was a child ,things for us were a lot different . We'd all get gifts at Christmas (five of us) but one or two gifts each was enough and yet i never doubted my parents' love for me. We teach our kids what 'enough' is. Sometimes the more kids have , the less grateful they become because such is the nature of materialism.

Gifts should not substitute real affection and family time. Kids dont need the whole toy shop in their home to show them they are appreciated.Hugs, heartfelt laughter and shared kisses create more lasting impressions. Its now so easy to get sucked into being too materialistic.Tuck those credit cards away, go for walks together, build a snowman,go see the local attractions,play games, read stories,tell jokes, watch a feel good movie, cuddle,eat together and create priceless memories that dont put an enormous dent in your finances and leave you struggling to stay afloat financially in the coming year.

What Im saying in a nutshell is, take time to plant, enjoy and smell the REAL roses without having to spend on artificial roses that have no scent and are not as bright.If it is Christ you are celebrating(with or without the tree and decorations), then do spend time with Him and allow His voice to be heard in your homes.

Buy clothes that you NEED, food that you NEED and will eat, cut your cloth according to the measure you have and enjoy the true celebration of Christmas. Happy birthday Jesus and merry Christmas to you all.