“The trouble with organizing a thing is that pretty soon folks get to paying more
attention to the organization than to what they’re organized for.” ~Laura Ingalls Wilder.
When I think of a simple Christmas, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s description of childhood in a log cabin comes to mind. Homemade toys, a piece of fruit, hard candy, and Pa reading the Christmas story from the Bible with snow piled high outside.
I don’t know what a simple Christmas means. I admit it. What I have come to realize is all the good Christmas traditions in the world will never replace the simple story of our Savior’s birth. In light of all eternity, that’s really what I want my family to see and hear at Christmas: Christ. When traditions, even good ones, take precedence, Laura’s words are true, we forget the true meaning of a thing and, unfortunately for believers, we run the risk of creating idols. May our good traditions during Christmas never become more important than Christ!
This year I’m willing to try a new thing–willing to set aside even good Christmas traditions that may be blocking my (or my family’s) view of Christ. Starting my family on the path of simplicity this year, we are participating in The Great Christmas Give. If you follow Mentoring Moments’ Anchoring Deep page, you read over the weekend Cindy’s challenge of The Great Christmas Give:
As I was on my way to church this morning, I began to think about how we had just come out of 30 days of thanksgiving with reminders of how much each of us have been blessed by God. Now as we enter into this Christmas season, it would be appropriate to give back to God gifts from our hearts of gratitude. Both of the sermons that I listened to today confirmed that the season is all because God chose to give us the greatest Gift of all.
I Timothy 1:18-19: Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.
I would like to suggest that you join me in participating in doing something to express His love to someone daily. This could be something as simple as sending a note of encouragement to a family member, giving a candy bar to a cashier, letting someone go ahead of you in a shopping line or purchasing a toy for a child. We can call it The Great Christmas Give. Then share with us what your gift to God was today as you ministered to someone else. It will be a great way to bring God glory and challenge one another to give. Gifts need not cost money, they can be words, acts of service, or even acts of worship to God. As we share how we have been able to bless others maybe others will do the same and join our challenge to give.
In addition to The Great Christmas Give, Mentoring Moments’ 12 Days of Christmas begins today. This year our theme is A Simple Christmas. We will be sharing our simple thoughts, recipes, and ideas. Nothing fancy. Join us by sharing your thoughts on the journey to finding (or rediscovering) simplicity this season.
“Let’s approach Christmas with an expectant hush, rather than a last minute rush.” ~Unknown
About Kellie Renfroe
Kellie and her husband Greg have been married 32 years and have four children ranging in age from 17 to 28. She co-founded Mentoring Moments for Christian Women in 2005. Kellie is a homeschooling mom who enjoys reading, studying the Bible, writing, photography, and learning how to cook.
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