Does God really want you to celebrate Christmas????
By bird123
@bird123 (10632)
United States
December 4, 2010 12:13am CST
I know this christian couple who do not give gifts for Christmas. All I can say is: Those poor children!!! The couple tell me they are celebrating Christ's birth and nothing else. They tell me that's what Christmas is really all about. I tried to make them aware of the hurt their children feel regardless of the excuses for not giving gifts. The children will feel unloved or not good enough to receive a gift. Even if they had no money, one can always find some spiritual gift to touch the soul and warm the heart.These kids get nothing. Does God really want you to celebrate Christmas??
Part of what God is teaching us all is to love unconditionally. I can think of no better way than to give gifts for Christmas. We all have the great opportunity to make someone happy through a selfless act. Christmas can be the excuse for us to put our love into action. God wants us to put our love into action. God wants the love, the sharing, the joy, the selflessness that is Christmas. How about we send all our efforts this year on others. Share our joy, our life, our happiness. Let's give to touch the hearts of others in that special way that each of us can. GOD WANTS US TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS. I bet if you could ask Christ, he would want the same thing too. In addition to our loved ones, let's not forget those in poverty. Even one day of ease is wonderful. I love you all Unconditionally. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYBODY!!!
2 people like this
10 responses
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
5 Dec 10
" Merry Christmas To Everybody"? Even us non Christians? I hope so.As a Non Christian I can celebrate Christmas without even thinking about Christ! I think the family is objecting to the commercialism of a holy day. Just because their kids don't get gifts Does not mean they are unloved . Or that they are less than any other kid.Are you saying that it is only every December 25th that is deemed to show your love? Of course not! There is always their birthdays for gifts.I always thought what do truly devout Christians think of the secular Christmas most of us celebrate. Now I know. I applaud this couple. they are practicing their religion that way they deem fit. As for G-d? I am not Christian so this is a huge guess. What I know of Christ, as long as you are kind to one another, and help the poor, He will be happy. Didn't He say what you do to the least of you , you do to Me? I always smile because each several years , I would buy a doll for Toys For Tots. So I was giving Christ a doll for His Birthday. Lol!
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
5 Dec 10
I'm nice until it is time Not to be nice! I see it this way, The kids won't get what they want during Christmas but when it is their birthday, They will get the world. That way it is about them , not Santa Claus. And that way Christmas remains holy , not just a gift swap!
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
5 Dec 10
Not giving gifts to their children at Christmas doesn't mean they don't love their children, however you can't tell me the kids don't feel bad about this. I could see the hurt in their eyes when their parents were telling me about this. Somehow I think you agree. After all, some child is going to get that doll you bought who otherwise wouldn't have. Bark all you want. I know you are just an ole softy. Thanks for all your comments!!
1 person likes this
@Christoph56 (1504)
• Canada
5 Dec 10
I'd just like to point out, that Christmas, as in, the lights on the decorated tree, and around your house, and the giving of gifts, was not made by Jesus or any Christan system. It's originally the Pagan holiday of the winter equinox, which was adapted by Christianity as the birth of Christ. Funny thing is, according to pieces from the new testament, the shepherds were out tending their fields when Jesus was born, and that only happens from the spring to the fall, not winter. There are more ideas, directly in the bible that show that Jesus' birthday was not December 25th. Look it up on the internet, and you'll find more.
So, if those Christians are celebrating Christmas as just the birth of Christ, they have got the wrong day.
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
7 Dec 10
Most everyone knows December 25th is not the true date Jesus was born; but since we don't know exactly when he was born, and it has become the tradition, why change it? We also know shepherds didn't tend their fields. They tended sheep.
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
7 Dec 10
Bestboy19, So when you don't know the truth, you pick a date and call it real????? What else is being done like this??? I bet those sheperds did more than just sheep. Doesn't it seem funny they picked a pagan holiday since they have always been against pagans?? Thanks for all your comments!!
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
5 Dec 10
Thanks for the information. Christmas time is just such a good time of year to celebrate. Too busy in the spring to fall to find the time with all those crops to get in. There are no excuses now not to give a few gifts to their children. Thanks for all your comments!!
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
8 Dec 10
Thank you bird and a Merry Christmas to you as well.I agree with you, gift giving especially to children, should be a must for all Christians. The example is there in the Bible when the three wise men brought gifts to the Christ child. I know that many celebrations around Christmas didn't come until much later but it's the experience of giving that counts. I agree with you as well about helping those who live in poverty. This Christmas lets give from the heart, it may be a gift to a child or to someone who lives alone but let's also give a smile and a wish for a Merry Christmas. Blessings.
@6precious102 (4043)
• United States
7 Dec 10
I realize the date has passed, but perhaps you could encourage this family to give their children gifts on St. Nicholas day (Dec 6) which frees December 25th as a day to only celebrate Jesus birth. You might also tell them about Epiphany (January 6th) when tradition says the wise men presented their gifts to the baby Jesus and that family could give gifts to their children then.
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
7 Dec 10
I don't think you should judge the love this couple has for their children by the gifts they give or don't give them at Christmas. Maybe the parents are giving them a greater gift than anything material. I would think the love and care they show their children would outshine any other gift they may give. Of course, you know them. What do you say? Can you see, in their daily lives, how much they love their children?
I hope you have a very happy and blessed Christmas.
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
7 Dec 10
As a child, I did get gifts for Christmas, as an adult, I do not.
So Bird, are you saying a parents love can not compare with material objects? Is that how you judge someone, by the amount of stuff they give others? There was a radio program years ago called the Minarith Meyer Clinic which was a call-in psychiatric program. They asked a group of children of rich parents what they wanted for Christmas. They all said, their parents.
For someone who talks so much about love, it's sad to realize material wealth is more important to you than a parents love. Would Jesus want these children to have gifts? He'd want them to have the greatest gift, Him; and these parents are giving their children the knowledge of the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. There is no greater gift they could give their children.
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
7 Dec 10
So bestboy19, what did you get for Christmas???? Nothing???? How would you feel about that??? You can't think about yourself. What do you think those kids really feel when their friends ask what did you get for Christmas???? Jesus supposedly loved children. Would Jesus really want those kids to go without gifts???? What do you think???
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
8 Dec 10
THis has nothing to do with physical things. Can't you see that???? These parents know people get gifts for Christmas. THese parents know their kids will feel bad when others ask them about their Christmas. How much are your children's feelings worth??? I could see the hurt in those children's eyes when their parents told me about it. Are the parents BLIND????? Worry not. I'm working on this little problem as we speak. So you do not receive a single gift for Christmas. Hmmmm??? Maybe this explains alot!! Thanks for all your comments!!
@pastorlamont (184)
• United States
5 Dec 10
In all honesty, The Christmas holiday is pagan - you know, the tree, the lights, etc. however, the concept of gift giving comes from the wisemen who visited Mary and Joseph and its also symbolic of God's gift to us, so we give gifts to others. I truly believe that we strain at a gnat and swallow a camel when it comes to this holiday! Celebrating the birth of Christ should be an EVERYDAY thing, not just one time annually. I also understand people make their own choices. I don't know about making the kids unloved, unless they don't get gifts at all. Getting a gift on Dec. 25th doesn't prove that love; especially if that's the only time I get a gift!! Either or, the focus should be on Christ and nothing else. Giving gifts IS part of that! What about giving gifts to Jesus? I remember one year, we made a 'birthday' cake for Jesus (cute). Whatever stirs your heart to Him. Merry Christmas...you can't spell Christmas, without CHRIST
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
5 Dec 10
So giving gifts is part of Christmas. Let everyone know!!!! You think those kids don't feel bad about no gifts??? All their friends get gifts. Their friends talk about their holiday. Wouldn't you feel left out and a bit unloved if everyone received gifts but you??? Remember, these are children. People can paint up the story all they want, but it's not right for those children to receive nothing. Hmmm??? Maybe I could sneak them a few gifts by surprise and really see the joy in those eyes. Yes, maybe I can surprised the parents with a wonderful gift they can't refuse. We can see if they will live up to what they preach. Thanks for all your comments!!
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
7 Dec 10
So are you saying your children will get no gifts for Christmas????? God gave the world so many views to guaranty mankind a larger view than any one person could have. The key to seeing all these views is interaction. Yes, I will interact with these people. Trouble and drama are no excuse for not sharing that which is special about each of us. This might not be the christian thing to do but it is the Godly thing to do. Thanks for all your comments!!
@pastorlamont (184)
• United States
6 Dec 10
gift giving is a part of Christmas, it's also apart of being a Christian. If they are believers, then gift giving is more than one day - if that's true, than they really don't feel left out. I know about children, I have 4 of them...I know what's best for them whether you have contrary opinions or not - they are my children; these parents are probably on the same level. Remember, we're on the outside looking in...
I do understand where you're coming from though so don't get me too wrong, but I believe that before you take the initiative of 'sneaking' gifts, the best thing to do is mind your own business...you may be borrowing trouble, and that's certainly not Christian.
@urbandekay (18278)
•
4 Dec 10
Well done this couple! I think you are wrong to say the children will feel unloved, there are better ways to express love. Christmas should not be a festival of greed but that is what it has become
all the best urban
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
4 Dec 10
Aren't your children worthy of getting a simple gift???? Sure Christmas has gotten comercial. That doesn't mean people have to. The very best gifts aren't comercial at all. Think back at those gifts you could never forget. Thanks for all your comments. Go out on a limb. Give a few gifts unconditionally. Make the other person happy without expectations of return. Share the Christmas joy when you look into their eyes.
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
6 Dec 10
When I was a child, there were no gifts under the tree (a cedar that Mother and I cut from the pasture). We were poor but not destitute. We children always got what we NEEDED. The few toys that we had were mostly made by out mother. Our father was a hard working farmer who didn't have time for anything else. My brothers got rifles when they were in their teens, but they were to be used to chase the crows out of the corn and to shoot rabbits and squirrels for the table. I always felt sad at Christmas time. By the time I was in Jr. High, I would list everything I had received since September when someone asked me what I got for Christmas.
@achilles2010 (3051)
• India
5 Dec 10
God certainly may not like they way some people celebrate Christmas. He certainly would not want us to eat, drink and be merry as some people might think. On Christmas we must first remember God and thank for giving his word and then for keeping it. We must thank God for the Gift of Jesus to the world. He wants us to pray and ask that we also may become as Jesus was. He would expect us to bring happiness to those who for some reason are not able to celebrate Christmas. He does not want that we must squander our money on useless things.
@visavis (5934)
• Philippines
4 Dec 10
Hello there, yes I agree with you God loves us unconditionally.. But celebration of Christmas and you forcefully give gift to others or your loves I think depends to the people how they treat and believe the coming of the Savior. The true meaning of Christmas is for everyday life not only December 25 (this date is not God given date), treat your everyday Christmas in your heart, you give and help others in all time. This celebration of Christmas is only traditional way but not stated in the bible... see you around. Anyway Merry Christmas and Happy New Year tooo...
