The songs of His story are everywhere this season. Calling us back to His gift and truth. I’ve been trying to listen beyond the music and tunes so familiar they’re like the “ABC’s.” I can sing them without a conscious thought, but this year I’m listening hard to the words.
And I’m astonished at what I might have missed!
The message of love in words so rich, so full of hope, so pregnant with promise. So full of not just a season but a lifetime of joy and peace on earth.
Over the next couple weeks until Epiphany I want to share some of what I’m hearing with you. It’s my present to you. I hope you like it.
And I hope something you read here might bring you lasting joy this Christmas season. All the way into your New Years. Thank you for reading.
I felt stuffed walking through Costco last week. It wasn’t the food samples that did it to me. I felt consumer stuffed. Picking up the box of glasses I’d planned to buy so we could have matching ones for our table on Christmas day, I felt stuffed. Uncomfortably so. Why did I need to spend $25 to make my glasses match when there were plenty of glasses to drink from at home? Next I looked at the fryer I’d considered buying. It would be so much less mess when we make homemade donuts. But was the mess really such a big deal. Did I need to spend $30 on another kitchen device. And what might $30 do for someone in need?
On it went. Through the book aisle, the CDs, the DVDs, the toys. I’d pick up an item considering it for a gift and ask myself “Really? Why?” And I felt stuffed remembering all the “stuff” already filling our house. Wouldn’t it just be forgotten? And how might $8, $10, $15 bring some joy to one hungry in body and spirit.
I remembered the Proverb we’d discussed at Bible study just that morning:
“Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” Proverbs 30:8-9
I think we are in far more danger of the former than the latter. Of disowning Him.
It’s been said that if you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world. And if you have money in the bank and your wallet and spare change in your pocket, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.
In our wealth, especially at Christmas, might we disown Him and all His gifts in favor of our own?
Somewhere around the gift basket aisle, overflowing with delicacies, packaged with excess and calories, I hear this tune and these words,
“Come peasant, king to own him.”
And I wonder, which one has a better chance of truly owning him.
I LOVE giving gifts! I still plan to. But this Christmas I want to come hungry and walk away from the “table” satisfied with more than stuff. Satisfied with something that will fill my soul beyond the season.
Full of Him.
In case you’re feeling stuffed too:
International Justice Mission
Samaritan’s Purse
Compassion
so good, Kim. i too had similar feelings doing Christmas shopping at the mall of all places. i wrestle with it every year. and every year i have no "answer" but to just continue to speak to my children about Advent and bring more of a spirtual and thoughtful meaning to our gifts–to who ever they might be. thanks for sharing your heart…