Christmas is not my birthday

[Warning to my secular friends - this post contains references to my religious beliefs. Sorry about that.]


In a comment to my post yesterday, my blog friend Chris said:

yes! I almost posted it with my post yesterday because I liked it so much... where did you come across it? I read a good post that linked to the complete story, which had a comment that linked to it :) yeah... good stuff there.

It puts to visual what my thoughts have generally been for a few yrs, but I've also had a hard time speaking it to anyone.

I really wonder how to apply any of that...

Well, that got me thinking. It's one thing to put a video or a badge for a good cause up on my blog, it's another to actually do anything about it. How do we apply it? Well, here's what I have come up with. First, we are going to pick a charity as a family (the kids will have their say) and give something to that organization specifically for Christmas. Second, I just sent an email asking my family to forgo buying me any gifts this Christmas. They can certainly make me something - like homemade noodles or pie, say, both of which my mom and mom-in-law rock at (Mmm, noodles... Mmm, pie... :o)

Instead, here is the email I just sent asking that they give what they would have spent on me to a charity of their choice. Perhaps if you're interested you could do something similar yourself. I'm just sayin'. Peace.

Last year at Christmas time I was moved by a series of posts I read and wanted to ask my family not to get me anything for Christmas and instead donate it to something worthy, but I timed it too late. This year I have read and seen even more and feel strongly in my heart that I really need to say "No, but thanks." Knowing my mother I probably have timed it too late again. :o) But maybe there's still time.

I have enough "stuff". Really. I have books I haven't read, movies I haven't seen, CDs I haven't listened to, gadgets I haven't used, clothes I've rarely worn. And when I think of all that, I think of this:

"The bread which you do not use is the bread of the hungry; the garment hanging in the wardrobe is the garment of the one who is naked; the shoes you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot; the money you keep locked away is the money of the poor; the acts of charity you do not perform are so many injustices that you commit."
- St. Basil the Great, from The Call to Justice by Dorothy Harris

So, instead of buying me any presents for Christmas, in the true meaning of the season and in honor of Who it commemorates I would like to ask that you take any money you would have spent on me and:

• Feed the poor.
• Sponsor a child.
• Shelter the abused and homeless.
• Dig a well.
• Buy a goat.

In this time of global uncertainty and turmoil we need to give our love and resources to people in need even more than when times are good. For Jesus's sake:

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

As for me and my holiday gift needs, I count on the present of your presence during the holiday season and year around, and that is more than enough. I have family, friends, health, shelter, food, water, safety, employment, transportation. I am rich. Thank you, God!

Thanks for listening, and please pass this along to anyone else that you know of who may be thinking of buying me anything. Let us celebrate this season by sharing with others the blessings we have and by keeping our eyes on what's truly important, which is not of this world.

Merry Christmas!