Why Does Christmas Bother Me?

For some reason Christmas’, starting a couple of years ago, have really been bothering me.  One of the things I’ve learned about myself is that I have the strength of Restoration and Consistency, which means I like to concentrate on those things that need work and make sure all levels are on the same playing field.  It also means that I sometimes push down those things that rise too far, those things that keep the balance unlevel.

It could also do with the fact that a few summers ago, I went on a mission trip to Mexico to help build a “home” (more like sheds to us Americans).  These people used whatever they could just to have shelter.  They still had to have water trucked in and most had outdoor toilet facilities.  It could also have to do with that since my wife and I got married, we really haven’t had much money and are use to opening 1 or 2 or zero presents at Christmas. And that’s the way we liked it.  We also have the rest of the year to get ourselves in financial trouble the way it is .

What gets to me the most is to hear so many people get bent out of shape over throwing Christmas parties, having to do all this shopping, complain how they got this and that and not this and that, complain how much money they spend, complain how they don’t have money to spoil everyone (a.k.a. put themselves on a worship table of “look how awesome I am for you…”), this charity and that charity asking for money during this season more than using the other 340 days of the year to get our awareness of the need.

This year, my family has asked for our family members to just get our kids two gifts (I can’t remember more than several gifts I received my entire childhood) and then to consider a donation to the charity of our choice.  This year we are visited those in the elderly home who will not get visits on Christmas day and bring them some cool things like slippers, body lotions, and small house plants.  Did you know that this season of this year specifically is the lowest attendance of all time for elderly home visits?

I don’t say all this to say, “look at me, I care about people more than you do.”  There are people doing stuff like this more than me every year, every day of the year, I’m sure about that.  I’m sure you can jump all over my thinking behind all this with the kids and even challenge me that I only do good for others around Christmas time.  I hope my kids see and understand that they are extremely blessed already year round and we need to put our eyes open to those in need year round, but even more specifically during this already heightened season of expecting cheer, joy, peace and emotions of feeling alone or left out.  I hope I grow more passionate about making myself and the world around us aware that the playing field is far from level.

Does any of that bother you as well?