tis the season...

watch it. don't just skip over it. watch it. and then keep reading...


after a movie like that, i don't have to say much. not even i, have much to say.

this video hits me at my core. it challenges me, it hurts me, it convicts me, it breaks me.

and honestly, i will watch it and feel convicted, and i will cry, and think how much i suck. and i will turn off the computer, walk out the door, spend money, and get angry, and stress over how to get everyone what they want for christmas.

i am a hypocrite. it is shameful how big of a hypocrite i am.

i am worried about how to find the money to furnish my new house, how to decorate it to perfection for our first christmas in our first home. i am wondering what perfect gifts i can buy my family and friends, how to make them happy, how to make them love my gift, love me the best.

across the world a mother is wondering how far she can stretch the end of her rice, a grandmother prays over her sick grandchild, a father wonders how he can possibly buy a gift for his family. and here i sit, on my couch, in my warm house, watching reality television, wondering what kind of potatoes i should make to go with my rack of lamb for christmas dinner.

who am i? how selfish am i? what is wrong with me?

i have everything in the world, and still i want more, and rarely does it cross my mind how i can help anyone else.

and what is christmas without hope, without love, without joy? and what is christmas? christmas isn't shopping, and presents, and trees, and holly. christmas isn't ornaments, and stockings, and santa, and food. christmas isn't credit card debt, and stretching the budget. it isn't stress, and headaches, and sickness, and loss of sleep.

christmas is the perfect gift. a perfect of gift of love, and life, and forgiveness, and eternity. and i have so much i can give, we all have so much we can give.

this year, i will try not to get sucked into the christmas of the world. i will try to be the christmas of Jesus Christ, of a God who loves me. i will try to be christmas right where i am.

"Don't just say that you want to give, but go ahead and give! You'll never catch up with a mere hope."
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"Some people give time, some money, some heir skills and connections, some literally give their life's blood, But everyone has something to give."
Barbara Bush

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."
Charles Dickens

"Great little One! whose all-embracing birth
Lifts Earth to Heaven, stoops Heaven to Earth."
Richard Crashaw