Stop the War on Christmas

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.