Christmas "Stuff"

Christmas is less than a week away. I, for one, will be glad when it is over. I actually love Christmas and what it really stands for, but it has turned into something so very different. People don’t seem to celebrate the birth of Jesus, they just use it as an excuse to spend money and buy stuff for each other. Stuff, that while the sentiment is nice, is just…well, stuff.
 
Unless you are really young or really old, odds are, you can buy the things you really need. Or, buy the things you really want. And, while presents from others are nice, I feel like it has become so “dumbed down” that people just buy something for the sake of buying something. People don’t seem to put much thought into what they buy or give.

In my family, we realized quite a few years ago, that we would rather just spend time together. We don’t even bother with presents anymore. It is much more important to us to just hang out and visit for a while. (Ok, and eat some really good food!) This makes things so much easier.
 
I am naturally shy and introverted. And, while I have good friends whom I enjoy spending time with, you can normally find me at home reading. Christmas is stressful. Going anywhere around Christmastime is stressful. Just doing your normal things, like going grocery shopping, is stressful. Why? Because people are out shopping, buying stuff they don’t need. At least, this is how I have come to think of it. And, this is why I will be glad when it is over.
 
In my perfect world, people would buy a few nice toys for their kids at Christmas. But, they buy them in September and October. They would think of some nice, useful gifts to buy elderly people they know that will make those elderly folks feel remembered and appreciated. They would spend time with their families, put away their mobile devices, turn off the TVs, and play games or share stories and make memories. They would volunteer their time to help a neighbor who needs it. They would donate all that money that would normally spend buying “stuff” to nonprofits that are doing good works in the community or around the world.
 
It all comes down to adjusting your mindset. Christmas is now just a commercialized holiday, where companies are counting on you to buy their “stuff.” Don’t make Christmas about “stuff”, make it about people. Make it about Jesus. Make it about sharing the story of Jesus’ birth and the Good News that goes with that. Make it about helping people. Make it about spending time with people you love. Make it about being kind to others.
 
Take some time before Christmas gets here on Friday and read the story of Jesus’ birth again from the Bible (Luke 2: 1-20). Remind yourself what this holiday is really all about. Make a transition within yourself this year and turn Christmas back to what it was meant to be: a joyous celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ with those that you love.