Christmas conundrums

This all started when my brother asked me what I wanted for Christmas. Even though I've been thinking about not doing gifts at all this year, and just doing donations (and baking), I still said “Pushing Daisies! Season 1!” with a big smile on my face. [He rolled his eyes]

I really wanted Season 1 of Pushing Daisies. I REALLY still want it, admittedly. But I knew that something had to change this year – an upheaval of the Christmases that have come before. I knew in my heart, that I shouldn’t gift/be gifted in the traditional way this year (and in the years to come). And so, with courage, I asked my brother not to give me anything this year…but that if he’d like to, he can make a donation on my behalf to a non-profit organization of his choice.

I know that I might sound silly to you at this point – after all, what’s wrong with receiving/giving a few gifts here and there? There really isn’t anything wrong, but I thought – what if there was something bigger at play here?

My thought process:
So...Jesus was born in a manger.
What company did he keep? Mom and Pops. Random farm animals. A donkey.
What stuff did he have? Um...does hay count? Something to wear, I suppose.
Why did he come? To save. Yep, that's the literal meaning of his name. The one who saves. Somehow, the thought of that makes me teary.
It's as simple as that; he came to save all of us, and he came to save me.
Little old me. Not for what I have, for what I lack. Just me.

It figures that since he came in such a simple manner, that perhaps the way that I celebrate his birth should be simple too.
And really, the original Christmas gift was one of salvation. A salvation that holds no bars and doesn't discriminate against anyone...a salvation that's meant to be shared.

New Christmas to-do list:
1) Re-think Christmas.
2) Do my very best to abide by new counter-cultural view of Christmas.
3) Share the love. Relationally.