Letting Go of Christmas

So I'm just sharing what I did this year for Christmas. With four kids, and limited time with 3 of them, I did not want to buy a bunch of toys, stuff  that would just be discarded or ignored after a week. So, I decided to combine all the Christmas funds and buy the whole family a gift. Each kid will also get 1-2 gifts under the tree.

I like the idea of the family experiencing something together, rather then giving kids what ever they want on a list.

I braved the traffic and the crowds in Seattle yesterday to venture out and get find some gifts. But I quickly felt discouraged. Instead of getting a bunch of stuff that didn't matter, I decided to invest in something special and lasting for our family. I can't reveal what the big gift is yet, because not even Forrest knows!

The reason I'm sharing this is because I almost did not celebrate this year. I admit the minute Christmas roles around I can't help but to feel a sense of dread.

So many expectations- and the underlined message that what you buy expresses how much you love someone. I think that's the worse thing about it. I love so many people, and in my heart would love to buy everyone something amazing to cheer up their day. Not to mention the homeless, and needy families in the area. I know there are people who will say "Christmas doesn't have to be that way"- but for most of our culture it is

. There are so many families who are too poor to afford Christmas. Parents feel guilty, kids feel disappointed. It's a hard holiday for me. Every year I find myself being less and less interested in celebrating, when it includes spending money we never have.

I am reminded of all of this as my friend just posted a picture of Target building a Valentines display, before Christmas has even began. I am very tempted not to celebrate in the traditional way next year, and just take the kids somewhere instead. But sadly my biggest fear, is that my kids will feel I unloved, or unhappy that they are not having "Christmas"..

How did a holiday that the Catholic church took over hundreds of years ago, turn into such consumerism? With the prime focus being a guy in a big red suit that judges whether or not you are good enough to receive something?

This is pretty much the opposite of anything to do with Jesus who entered this world in poverty, and came to give love and life to everyone, regardless of whether they "deserved it" or not.
So as a Christian, if I were really honest, I don't think Jesus would celebrate Christmas, because he wouldn't want to leave anyone out. It's a holiday where you have to have money to enjoy it. Jesus was never interested in materialism.
I'm going to embrace the Whoville spirit and count it as a winter holiday. The point of the Grinch is that he stole Christmas, but the little whoville people had Christmas anyway. Same with Charlie Browns Christmas. The point of these early 70's movies was that it shouldn't be about consumerism, but I'm not thinking our culture has got the message.