rethinking christmas
*Before you read this, I want you to understand that I do NOT think giving gifts for Christmas is bad by ANY means. I just wanted to write (with 100% honesty) what I have been feeling and what I am going to do about my own personal convictions. I am not trying to make anyone feel “guilty” about what they choose to do, but I do challenge you to rethink things if you are feeling any kind of “nudge” in reading/watching this.*
For the past 2 years (and now this year) our church has been doing the Advent Conspiracy which is really a way to rethink Christmas…or, more accurately, get back to thinking about Christmas for what it really is. I have had an interesting internal battle with this concept the past few years and it really comes down to my own selfishness. The first year I saw the video I felt super convicted but really just avoided the whole concept and moved on. The 2nd year I again felt convicted and moved to do something and it really made me re-evaluate how we were doing Christmas. However, sadly, I did nothing…again. I didn’t want to forego giving gifts to people because that meant I wouldn’t get the gifts in return. (yep….I just admitted that out loud…)
The thing that annoys me most about myself in all of this is that I have a huge heart for organizations that are changing the world, yet…I can’t give up presents, which is so selfish of me. I’ve been to Kenya 3 times and have seen firsthand what Compassion International is doing. I’ve seen what incredible organizations like blood:water mission and Charity:Water are doing to provide clean water around the world…but heaven forbid I miss out on getting a new necklace or sweater…I need presents!
This year my sisters and I decided not to do presents for each other for Christmas. When the decision was made I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. Not only is the stress of Christmas shopping going to be eased, but we can take that money and do something BIG with it. When you watch the video, I hope you are blown away by this statistic: $10 Billion would SOLVE the world’s water crisis…yet, we spend $450 billion on Christmas…EVERY YEAR. Sobering.
I also realize that in the hustle and bustle (and crazy spending) I totally forget what Christmas is about. That God sent His son to Earth. Our Savior! I get so caught up in the consumer side of Christmas that I forget to sit and revel in the Glory that is Christmas! I am excited for that to be different this year. Christmas is NOT about gifts, but our society makes us think it is.
Honestly, Chris and I haven’t sat down to decide what we are going to do to (nor does he know I am writing this blog about rethinking things… 
), but I have been extremely convicted in the past few months that we need to take our money and do something with it…not just buy something with it.
So, I want to challenge you – are you going to rethink Christmas this year?
Could you Sponsor a Child? Provide clean water? Help end human trafficking?
What about thinking locally? Help a neighbor or friend in need with their bills next month. Give someone a gift card to buy food for their family.
Here are some organizations I fully stand behind if you need some ideas or just want to check them out:
- Compassion International – Sponsor a Child or meet an Immediate Critical Need
- blood:water mission – give health and clean water to nations around the world
- 410 Bridge – empower leaders in Kenya to identify and implement sustainable solutions to problems in their community
- Not for Sale – help end human trafficking around the globe. Did you know 27 million people are enslaved today?
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