Tomorrow marks our first anniversary but I’d wager he doesn’t even realize it.
Before I knew his name, I had great affection for this stranger. He was bold, well spoken, imaginative, thoughtful and creative…but mostly he simply cherished his wife. He knew her so well he fashioned a gift for her that would curl her smile in an instant and twirl her spirit into buoyant pirouette, a love bounty that overflowed her heart and splashed goodness and wisdom and laughter and life onto those who celebrated with him.
Some would say our meeting was chance, but I don’t buy that for a skinny minute–I’m not a believer in coincidence. A friend introduced us—mainly to share his gift idea and garner support for it—but I’m convinced she was a Divine conduit, a vessel of God’s choosing, to seed a friendship that would quickly blossom and spread at the speed of dandelion wished upon and blown.
Eventually I would meet his wife, a story of its own too long for a telling in this space; the short of which, ours is a Jonathan and David friendship, instant and to the marrow. We understand each other from the inside out, and best of all, have sealed it with tears of pain and laughter. Mostly laughter.
It really doesn’t make sense if I think about it too much, so I let go my demand of explanation and with heartfelt thanks slip it into the column of The Mystery and Kindness of God. Seth and Amber are precious to me.
What does this have to do with Christmas Change? Everything.
The concept of Christmas Change has been percolating in the hearts and minds of (I believe) many for a while: doing more for those in need—true need—and indulging less for those of us who have much. I consider “those who have much” to be just about everyone who’ll stumble across this post. To be fair, I understand “much” is relative, but after having the luxury of traveling to India for ten days and observing extreme poverty, to know I can make in one day what it might take months for a worker there to earn…yeah…my paradigm of “much” shifts and I realize I can get by on a whole lot less and make a difference for someone else in the process.
Following the Mother Letter project, my friendship with Amber and Seth has only deepened; our conversations always end with a comma, and when we speak again, it’s right where we left off. It’s only natural that we share those things weighing heavily on our hearts, and one day when I was chatting with Seth, it just happened.
Christmas Change was born.
It wasn’t as dramatic or world changing as, say, the King of Kings and Creator of All Things shrinking to a size a mama could nestle in her arms, but we knew it was something big enough we couldn’t keep to ourselves.
Oooooh, how I could go on and on and on and ON, but there’s time for that later. A chorus of beautiful voices will be sharing their stories soon. For now we simply want to invite you to join us. To think upon these things. To consider what ChristmasChange means for you and your family. To take those small steps that over time cover a lot of ground. To reject a culture of consumerism and self indulgence, that yes, has even permeated the Christian community. To incarnate Christ in the everyday. To love lavishly the unlovable, in heart first, then in word and deed.
Your children are watching…
The world around you is waiting…
Y’all, it’s gonna be good. You don’t wanna miss out on the sweetness that awaits.
A season of change. A lifetime of return.
For eternity.
{Happy friendiversary, Seth! I could not believe the timing of my post when I went back to see when Shannon first posted her mention of TMLP! It’s been a year but it seems like forever…thanks for spurring on so many to love and good deeds. ~ R.}
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Thanks, Robin. You are too kind.
But you are right, this is about something bigger, more communal, and incarnational. As a community we’ve received so many ideas (see comments from the posts below), and we’ve been challenged to really live a different kind of life. To live a season of return.
I’d love to keep hearing these ideas. What is everyone out there doing to teach their children because, as Robin put it, they “are watching.”
Oh boy, are they watching. And they aren’t only watching us. They are watching every grown up who leans down to them in the super market or at the school who says “Are you being good? Santa is coming soon!” Exactly what I want to teach my kids…a works-based acceptance. O geez.
What a joy it is to not just take a step back this season, but to take a running start and a giant leap back to see the big picture of The God Story. Thinking about a season of change these past few weeks have challenged me to consider His story in many different ways. Other-than-me ways. It is good and needed.
I love the image of a dandelion blown by the wind. That’s a good one, Robin. Seth was right when he said I would love you. Thank you for this post.
I do want to be clear here, though, that this is not about us. We are about as bad at this as anyone, only I think seeing poverty does something to you. It did to Seth. Realizing our own poverty in marriage brought us to a place of great gift giving. I am so grateful for the Mother Letter Project, but even more, I’m thankful that it doesn’t stop there.
Right on, Emily! If Christmas isn’t a time to teach theology, there isn’t a time. I can’t wait to read your post. It’s so hard to get out of a rut that is generations long.
Robin, If I remember right our kids are similar in age. I am happy to say that the consumerism has changed over the years as they’ve gotten older – or the desire for it. Partly because my boys go to Mexico each year during the summer, they just know. Their lives will never be the same. Yes, they are watching. And their cries are changing from the “I wants” to “I want to give!” Love you, GF! Great post!
Seth, I’m tellin’ ya, every where I turn, **this** is the kind of message I’m hearing from those in my sphere. We’re collectively tired, ya know? Living with purpose, sharing Christ by copy-catting Him, I can’t think of a better way to be ENERGIZED! Thanks for running with an idea that IS bigger than one or two
.
Emily, I did a little happy dance when Amber told me you were going to be involved with CC. You voice is full of light and life and encourages in all the right place. You touched on something–just THINKING differently causes us to behave differently. Makes me think about renewing our minds…and becoming transformed…and fleshing out the Gospel. xo
Amber, Shewt! I hope my post doesn’t sound like it’s all about y’all or us!!! YIKES! My thought was to demonstrate it DOES only take a spark to get a fire going… and that God was in this before we knew “this” was a thing! Christmas Change is striking a chord with many because a change is NEEDED. For those in physical poverty, but also for those in spiritual and emotional poverty as well.
Sandy, YAAAAEEEE! To me, how you describe your boys’ transformation is a mommy paycheck! But, I’m certain you’ve been intentional in how you’ve parented them and you’ve modeled these things. My daughter went to Guatemala this past summer and yeah…she doesn’t want anything for Christmas this year…. GLAD to see you “here”!!
xo