IS THE CHRISTMAS TREE WRONG? ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO INSIGHT

While I only put up a very small, hand-made tree my dear sister made me last year, I don't put up trees, although I miss it.  I have a lot of Hallmark ornaments I inherited from my mother and sat them out but, I waited until the last minute and then took them down on December 25th. I won't put them out again but that's my conviction.  Those ornaments are pretty valuable (some anyway) and didn't really fit with my Biblical worldview.  They felt more like graven images, a show of wealth (although we're about as poor as one can get) and I'm trying to sell them to buy gifts for the needy.  No luck so far but honestly, they cause me more pain than joy.  We have more Biblical based traditions and this year I get to make a feast and plan to invite anyone wanting a meal.  I love to bake and give people baskets of muffins, cookies and fudge and hope to also have the $$$ to include some Bibles but if nothing else, I'll definitely share the Nativity and the Plan of Salvation. As I pray to start a home gathering soon, maybe this will be His way of opening that door.  I say why not give thanks for His birth?  

About santa, I have an alternative.  Tell your kids about Saint Nicholas who loved children, received a huge inheritance and on Christmas would give untold gifts and money to the needy.  Santa is an anagram for satan, I know. But, the original title of santa came from Saint.  Jesus Christ is truth, tell your children the Nativity and His redemption of us.  Then tell them that Jesus Christ blessed your family with "x" amount of extra money so that "santa, who is not Jesus Christ, has a mystery and the great part of the mystery of santa is that as they grow, they learn on their own what the mystery is.  They aren't to ruin it for those who have not yet figured it out.  Then, and here's the part I made up all by my lonesome, is tell each child you have been blessed by God with $200 (whatever amount you can afford) and teach them that it really is better to give.  Don't force them to, let them decide and respect their choice without judgment as children are selfish unless given a chance to not be.   Ask them if they would be willing to donate some of their "mystery santa" money to help those that have to use their money they were blessed with to feed their family or pay rent.  Hold back a some and tell them you too will donate the same amount they do to give them an extra blessing.  I'm almost willing to bet that even the most selfish, self-centered child (regardless of age) will either jump at the chance immediately OR will change their mind. That's where YOU come in.  Take them on a trip to the store, making sure to go by a poor section of your city, (but be safe), volunteer the family to feed the hungry as that is your right and authority as a parent to make them do it even if they don't want to, and also (and this is the fun part), make goodie baskets filled with baked goods, candy, cookies and even the ugliest cookies taste as good.  Include them.  They just might surprise you in how generous they really are.  However, if they say 50%, don't reward them by giving them the full amount anyway.  That teaches the wrong thing as we do not give to get, we LOSE something but gain far more than the latest cell phone or toy.  You learn love, compassion, grace and mercy.  You put Christ's love in action.  Oh, and look for sales and good deals but buy quality toys/clothes and not a bunch of cheap junk for the needy.  I know it makes it look like you're giving more but sometimes less is better.  They are just as worthy of the latest toy or gadget as your child.  

Last, in addition, ask them to go through their things and what they no longer want, wear or play with but is in good to excellent shape, it's fine to include those but shouldn't in in place of.  Oh, and don't buy a poor family a computer so their children can use it for school and fun unless you are also willing to pay for their internet.  Most parents can't afford it and many cities provide free internet to the needy.  Be sure to check that out.  The same for cell phones.  It's useless if the parents can't pay.  Maybe even your child would be willing to do extra chores or even find grass to mow or dog walking to earn the money to pay.  Kids are amazing and have this way of pleasantly surprising you but the downside is, it tends to show just how selfish we adults can be.  God bless and enjoy the season.  Put God first in all things and you will be fine. We are free in Him and have liberty!!!

WARNING...THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION ONLY BASED ON HOW I INTERPRET SCRIPTURE.  WE ARE FREE IN HIM AND NOT OPEN TO ARGUMENT OR DEBATE.  FEEL FREE TO HAVE YOUR OWN OPINION, CELEBRATE IT OR NOT BUT DON'T CONDEMN OTHERS FOR GLORIFYING OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST IN TRUTH AND SPIRIT!  BE SURE TO ALSO MAKE CHILDREN AWARE THAT DECEMBER 25TH IS NOT HIS REAL BIRTHDAY, WE DO NOT KNOW THE DATE OF HIS BIRTH.