Seth Primm, a friend and fellow lover of life, provides today’s ChristmasChange thought. Seth, who writes about gifts in community, lives what he writes. And that is a refreshing drink indeed. Enjoy his words today, and let us know what you think gift giving in community truly looks like.
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Christmastime is Here
Christmastime is here. It is a season marked by community and generosity. We gather to share food and memories with family and friends, and we shower one another with gifts.
In actuality, Christmastime is an excuse – an excuse to slow down, to live a little more like we share the planet with other people and that those people matter.
We were designed to live in community – to love, to need, to give, to receive, to simply “be” with others. When did we get too busy to live here?
I love Christmas time. It is a reminder of how we are to live life – together.
Christmastime also reminds us of the importance and beauty of a gift. Gifts are given freely, but that doesn’t mean there is no need for a gift. God’s gift of salvation in and through Jesus Christ is completely free to those who receive it by faith. I don’t think anyone would disagree that, in addition to being free, God’s gift is needed. It’s actually quite the understatement.
God’s gift giving makes me think about my gift giving. Does my gift giving address real need? After all, I can say that I “need” a new pair of jeans, but the truth is that I’ve never truly needed a new pair of anything. With that in mind, here are some gift giving questions to consider this Christmas season:
- Who is in need?
- How can I freely give to meet their need?
- How can I address the issue of community in my gift giving? How does my “presence” play into the gift?
How beautiful is it to benefit the community by giving a free gift? This kind of gift is a reflection of how our Creator, Sustainer, Savior-God relates to us. May we be mirrors that reflect His love to a watching world this Christmas, and may that spirit of community and generosity extend beyond a holiday.
“Oh, that we could always see such spirit through the year.”
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So, let us know, do you have any ideas for sharing the Christmas Spirit in community? We’d love to hear from you.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
There is a sort of Foster Care home here for girls that I just found out about. I bet they’re in so many towns, because the demand for foster parents is apparently greater than the supply.
Some women I know have contacted this home, asking about needs, and they are setting their peer circle to address those needs. One lady even extravagantly decorated their home for the Holidays.
There must be similar things everywhere, especially in the way of offering time. Wouldn’t it be something if believers acted as mentors all year long to just one person?
As I was reading this, John Michael (my oldest boy) comes in and looks over my shoulder and simply says “I can to do that.”
“Do what?” I ask him.
“Not get as many presents, so that others can get some.” He said
“Why?” I asked.
He paused and said “because everyone is equal and if I have Christmas so should everyone else.”
Seth, thank you for your post because through it an 8 year old boy’s simple remark of “I can do that” will not be forgotten and a door was opened.
When you live in a country like mine (not USA), where you see great needs everywhere…you face a different situation, the question is not “Should I give?” or “Who is need?” The question is “Lord, whom do YOU want me to help?”
We make sandwiches, and buy granola bars and juice boxes. We carry them around in our car, so we can extend our hand in almost every corner to the needy.
We also buy some blankets, and give them to people who is homeless. The cold is not easy to endure.
Our prayer is to be sensitive to those in need.
Becky
Oh man, I hate to shamelessly plug Billy Coffey’s blog here, but he’s got a Ten Dollar Challenge with links to over 20 stories of ways to bless others this Christmas. Some really great ideas here: The Ten Dollar Challenge Continues
Warning: this is a disturbing story.
A while ago, my husband pulled up to a stop light where a man sat by the side of the road. This is a frequent stop for panhandlers. My husband held out some money to the man. The man just looked at him, and then said: “The next thing I’m going to do is blow my brains out.”
My husband was taken aback, knew the light would change soon.
“Buddy,” He said, “Don’t say that. Do you know God?”
“Well, yes, I know God,” he said, “but what does that have to do with any thing?”
They looked at each other.
“What can I do to help?” My hubs asked.
“You can buy me a cup of coffee.”
Hubs held out the money again. The man just shook his head and looked away. My husband asked again.
“How can I help?”
“Buy me a cup of coffee.”
He wouldn’t take the money. The light changed. And my husband drove away. That moment has haunted him. And me too.
One thing that heartbreaking experience did was to help us to be ready. Not just to throw money at a situation, but to throw our hearts at it too. This entire concept, this Christmas Change, has helped us share this with our children.
Because what we do for the least of these we do for Jesus.
Thank you.