Do you remember what you got for Christmas last year?
What about the year before? These memories have probably faded and been replaced with the events of yesterday or anticipation of tomorrow. What gifts do you remember and what made them special? So often we forget the rules for giving Christmas gifts. Here is a guide to Christmas shopping.
Simple
Think back to your favourite Christmas. What made it beautiful and memorable? Was it the presents or someone’s presence? When the year becomes crazy and busyness threatens, present purchasing is an exhausting enterprise. Remember, keep it simple! Marketing tells us our children, coworkers and spouses will not be happy if we don’t run ourselves crazy buying presents. Yet, you are still the best gift possible. Give of yourself, be there. Presents should be secondary to presence.
Listening
“Be still and know I am God,” is a popular phrase among Christian communities, yet one which is difficult to put into practice. Being silent causes us to remember how weak and mortal we are. We remember our dependence on God and while this should not a terrifying possibility, we often treat it as one. Take your Christmas list this year and an hour to be quiet. You might be surprised with the ideas you come up with!
Thankful
Contentment is evasive. It slips under our doors and through our fingers. Christmas makes this painfully obvious. We search for meaning in the giving and receiving of gifts instead of the warmth of community and fellowship. This Christmas season remember to be thankful. The first step towards contentment is living a lifestyle of gratitude.
This Christmas, remember what the season is really about. A little baby who came down, became human and poured himself out in life and death for you. Simplicity, a listening ear and gratitude are the stepping stones to a life of more than enough, in every area of your life.