i am torn. and this post will be full of ramblings with no rhyme or reason as to why one sentence follows another. :)
i wasn't too keen on celebrating christmas this year. i have studied this issue for 4 years now and feel that it is quite possibly wrong (notice i didn't say positively wrong lol ) to celebrate christmas. not that it is wrong to celebrate Christ's birth but
christmas as it stands now has nothing to do with Jesus. i finally "relented" and celebrated becuz i read an article where the author agreed with my thoughts about it being a pagan holiday BUT since others EXPECTED a christian to celebrate christmas he felt it hurt his witness not to. maybe i made a mistake. hubby likes christmas so i have that to keep in mind.
as of now i have chosen - tho not totally happy with the decision- to celebrate christmas with Christ being the "reason for the season". i tried to buy only those gifts that would strengthen family unity, like games and dvds for family movie night.
i am a christian, try to live for Christ, and am rearing my children to do so. YET i saw greed and very little appreciation for all the gifts my husband and i bought and paid for with money that was needed elsewhere. and let me tell you - i don't spend half the money others do! i spent a total of $317 on 7 children. that ain't much next to some folks. yet it's a tremendous amount next to other families.
i know children who were crying becuz their parents didn't have ANY money to spend on gifts. how can you blame them? we as a society have taught our children to rake in as many gifts as possible. please don't comment on how you have trained your children not to be that way- i said as a whole society, not you expressly.
i saw game pieces lost already and the games haven't even been played yet! what a waste of cash!!!
i saw people going deeper into debt in order to buy the latest barbie doll, when if it was june 25th and someone told you they practically took out a loan to buy toys for their children you would think they were insane!! and God would be pleased with this how?
is the tree spoken of in jeremiah a christmas tree? i believe so. tho no one i know worships their tree, nonetheless it is a pagan tradition.
“Thus says the LORD: “Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are false. A tree from the forest is cut down, and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. Men deck it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Be not afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.” There is none like thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.”
Jeremiah 10:2-6if it is Jesus' birthday why do we give gifts to each other?
is teaching kids about santa lying to them? or is it acceptable cuz it's fun? (we have never done the santa thing)
i just don't feel right about celebrating christmas, no matter what is said. i have a lot of thinking to do. if it were for my children hubby said we could do away with it but becuz of them he wants them to have a good time and get gifts. i must admit- those are my feelings to. AND YET i have to teach them what is right.
i know - i have rambled. i probably don't make sense in some parts.i warned ya! please no smart alek comments. this is what God has laid on my heart. i am trying to do what is right in His eyes, not yours. maybe someone has a helpful word for me?
