I have for years mentioned the following
idea to friends about how to stop the war on Christmas....so we can say Merry
Christmas in stores, in schools, on the street, wherever we are.
It's simple really.
By and large, who BUYS Christmas
presents? Right....people who at least give a passing thought to Christ
himself. Obviously, professing Christians buy Christmas presents.
Also, those who honor the holiday because their parents and grandparents do (or
did when still alive). Other people buy a present or two when work
situations or family situations demand it. But still, the bottom line is
that by and large, it's Christians who buy Christmas presents, Christmas foods,
Christmas cards, Christmas wrapping paper and ribbons, Christmas books.
So if you would like to have a new
appreciation for Christians, it’s simple. We all work together and
boycott one year. Now boycott is a strong word for what I'm
suggesting.
I'm merely suggesting that we NOT BUY anything
for Christmas. We can give gifts to children under say, 12. The
older ones should understand what we are doing when we explain it. We can
give gifts to all others in these ways: give a handmade gift (whether you
make it or you buy it at a Church Bazaar.) Re-purpose a gift. That
means giving someone a gift that you received some time in your life and have
never used. Make something yourself---knit, sew, sculpt, paint, anything
you can do like that. Buy a craft kit and make something. If none
of those work for you, then get some notepaper and write down what you promise
to do for the recipient in the coming year. Promise to clean up the
kitchen after dinner some night, promise a to Wrap them in any wrap you
have….leftover from last Christmas, newspaper, anything. And use up all
the saved ribbon you have.
Now seriously, if the vast majority of
Christians do this….abstain from buying presents just ONE year…..I think the
economic jolt will encourage a change back to appreciating the holiday itself
and our faith.
