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Country Christmas
People often ask me “What’s it like living in way out in the country”, even here in Mississippi. All I can say is, “there is nothing like it”. To name a few, it’s extremely quiet, no street lights blaring through the windows, we don’t need fences for our dogs, we can canoe around our lake in solitude, we can build a bonfire without permits, we can breathe in fresh country air, and as you can see, we sometimes get a clean dusting of snow in the winter. I seem to try out more recipes in the winter which unfortunately shows through a few uninvited pounds on the scale.
Getting away from the city has also shown me how much I’ve bought into the commercialism of Christmas. I’ve spent years overspending and buying way beyond our means, for others and ourselves. I think Jesus shakes his head as he sees us running around like crazy people buying so many presents for each other to give to each other on Christmas Day. We have no idea how many wise men came to visit Jesus, though three gifts were mentioned. The gifts were honoring and valuable to Joseph and Mary in order for them to survive. Let’s face it, stores want to make a profit off the idea of the wise men bringing gifts, they want you to buy gifts – not for Jesus. Although buying presents for others in itself is nice (anytime of the year), I think our focus has shifted from Christ in Christmas, to ourselves. Whose birthday is it? Jesus’ birthday – not ours (unless of course your birthday is Dec. 25th). My family graciously requested that I pass on giving them presents on Christmas Day because of this very thing. No more making long lists of what you want, no more hearing the kids demand certain toys (that will be broken or in a garage sale next year). Our grandkids know there isn’t a Santa (truth telling), so no high expectations of gifts from Santa. The media and our culture have pulled us all away from what Christmas really is all about. I confess, I do give a lot of presents on their birthdays.
What is Christmas really? In a nutshell … it’s a day set aside to celebrate the birth of Christ, Jesus, God’s son, who came to earth to die for our sins. The truth is… the shedding of Jesus’ pure blood, made a way for us to get into Heaven. If Jesus had not died and came alive, there would be no way for us to go to Heaven. He came to be our Savior. In order for you to go heaven, you must accept Jesus as your Savior, know what He did on the cross, turn from your sin and begin living a life obedient to the Word (Bible). Accepting this truth leads to eternal life. That is the Good News everyone is celebrating!
What are we supposed to do on Christmas Day? Whatever you do, let your main focus be on Christ. o Attend a Christmas Service or Concert. Nothing puts me in the Christmas spirit like a good Christmas concert, or the church band singing “O Holy Night”. This year it was “girls night out” to see a Kari Kobe Christmas concert. I had never heard of her before but she is beautiful inside and out. o Read Luke. Reading the story of the birth of Christ from the Bible (Luke) is essential for remembering the first Christmas.. o Music. If you can sing or play an instrument—sing Christmas songs, in particular those about Jesus’ birth. This can be enjoyable and uplifting. o Family & Friends. It is great to get together with family and friends to celebrate the good news of Christ. Love it. Sharing in a meal and trying out new recipes can be fun. Have fun, play games, watch wholesome movies, and enjoy time together. This year my brother Alan and his friend Tracey flew from Australia to be with us. o Decorate. Jesus came to be the light of the world. There is nothing wrong with decorating the house with lights, decorations, setting up a Christmas tree. This year we bought a live tree (I love the smell) to decorate. We just took it down and planted it in the yard. Think how many trees we’ll have years from now. o Gifts. Giving a small unexpected gift to someone is a nice gesture. “It is more blessed to give than receive”. I love giving gifts (my major downfall). Instead of spending a small fortune, why not handcraft something, cards, give photos in a frame, a favorite recipe to instead, or even a funny gift. o People in need. We should remember those that are in true need, the downtrodden, and the hopeless and consider giving to them instead. Coats to those who need a coat, shoes to those who need shoes. International needs. There are many incredible organizations that serve the poorest of the poor. Last year, I got the poor chickens, rabbits, goats, etc. in honor of each grandchild, printed up cards and put them in the Christmas tree with their name on the envelope (Gospel for Asia (www.gfa.org). It was truly a unique gift idea. Giving to others—transforming lives. Backyard needs. This year I participated in some things I’ve never down before. Our small group at church cooked a meal for the homeless in downtown Jackson, with We Will Go Ministries. I made over 200 cookies and the rest of the group brought other items. We served up the meal and talked with the people. Mike and I even gave a poor young couple a ride home. We also participated in in Mission First, a ministry for the poor in Jackson. They converted an entire building into a Christmas Store for low income families where the parents could select gifts for their children (donated from area stores). They loaded up a large plastic bag of gifts and brought them to the gift wrap booth (that’s where I worked). What a blessing to see tears in their eyes and receive big grateful hugs. I didn’t realize the local TV station was filming the event, employees at work told me I was on TV. Our small group also adopted a family from the Clinton Community Christian Corp (aka 4 C’s) - local charity. A grandmother with no income was awarded by the court 6 grandchildren. The kids were seated quietly on the couch, the Christmas tree barren with gifts. When we carried in a turkey and all the trimmings and many gifts for everyone, the big smiles and tearful eyes said it all.
Give Christ the present He truly wants, yourself. Not just at Christmas, but all year round. Praying that the New Year brings you peace and happiness!
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The grandkids |
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Me and the older three |
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Rachel and dad, Chad, on the merry go round |
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Christmas in Canton, MS |