Keeping Christ in Christmas

Thank You Missica Skeens for the awesome photo!

 Every year I start out with good intentions to keep the focus of Christmas on Jesus. Then the hustle and bustle starts to take over. Lists of presents, packages coming and frankly bratty want-it-all kids threaten to steal that spirit away.

This year I want it to be different. I feel a bit like the Grinch because I'm not so caught up in the shopping and hoopla like I normally would be. Maybe it is because I'm getting about three hours of sleep (combined) each night with my little newborn baby. Maybe just managing to get the daily chores is a major chore this year.

I had a conversation with my cousin the other day. She said she added up all her giving to charity (not tithe/church - but the extra giving) and she compared it to the budget she sets for gift giving.  As you can guess the gift total was way more than the other. She has a plan to change that. What she said stuck with me. One of her things was she moved the people at the end of her giving list to the top. Like the teachers, mailman and trash men. The people who we take for granted as they make our life better.

I had a similar conversation with another friend this year. I had told her with my husband being laid off and having so much unpaid time off with having our baby that money was very tight this year. I wasn't going to be able to do as much as I did last year for an event we are doing next week. She made a comment about how this year giving to the less fortunate is the most important giving for her.

This has been on my mind now for a few days and I think I see a change in my heart. I believe Jesus would have us to show those around us love. I don't think that always means with presents.  To be honest this year I've cut back. I plan to do more JUST BECAUSE all during the year to show those I love that they are loved.

Maybe just a text, sometimes a gift and hopefully with time together.

I also want to give more to those that need it and to charity. I don't think we can ever get to a place where we are comfortable and say it is enough.

Anyways - this is all just ramblings tonight.