In the video on the main page of their website (find it by clicking here), they give the statistic that Americans spend 450 billion dollars on Christmas every year. More people die from lack of clean drinking water every day that anything else. It would cost 10 billion dollars to make clean water available to everyone.
I don't know about you, but I find those numbers staggering! Each year we in America, a country where 76% of the people identify themselves as Christians, choose to celebrate Christ's birth by spending $450 billion on stuff at the expense of lives, people created in the image of the very God we claim to love and serve!
I am ashamed for the part I have played in this! We as a family give money and toys and food and our time at Christmas, but we could do more. We are guilty of spending too much on things that won't matter to anyone in the long run. This year we are changing that. We will spend less (our specific goal is 50% less) and give more to people in true need -- the least, the last, the lost. I am grateful for a 2nd chance!
In Matt. 25:35-40, Jesus says,
'For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You drink? And when did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? And when did we see You sick or in prison, and come to You? ' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'What do you think Jesus wants for His birthday?
This post is part of the Moms' 30-Minute Blog Challenge.
Check out Gratituesday and Tuesdays Unwrapped.
I was just thinking of this very thing today-spending much, much less on our kids/family and more on those who truly need it. Please pray that we are willing/able to follow through.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!!! We are so blessed to live in South Africa where very real and desperate need is under our noses everyday so to speak. We just cannot be too indulgent when so many people are so desperate... It is a good life lesson, though not always nice, for us and our kids. And especially that our blessings are to share rather than gather up and store.
ReplyDeleteamen! my best christmas gift last year was a goat from my sis & bil...that they bought through samaritan's purse. This year, we're hoping to cut our costs by close to half too. And turn the other half around and help ppl in our town have a christmas that don't have enough. My goal is to teach my 4 kids the importance of giving and thinking of others, not getting.
ReplyDeleteMy pastor just recommended the Advent Conspiracy to me yesterday! I will definitely check it out -- the stats you cited are startling...and I know I am very guilty of overspending during the holidays. Thanks for the nudge!
ReplyDeleteWOW! I have never heard of the Advent Conspiracy. Incredible statistics-makes me ill.
ReplyDeleteThose were some incredible statistics. We have decided to cut our spending way back this year too. This was a real eye opener, thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteWow, that gave me chills! I guess I never looked at it from such a wide perspective. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right on. Children learn from their parents and Christmas can be a golden opportunity to do for others, but too often it turns into "do for us." Blessings to you from www.nanahood.com
ReplyDeleteTeresa
I popped over here from Tuesdays Unwrapped :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm so glad I did.
I have been pondering these very same things as the holidays approach. Thanks for the encouragement to maybe do the season a little different this year.
Have a wonderful day,
Kate ;)
Sometimes these things are cultural too, and it is good to think out of the box.
ReplyDeleteMy husband grew up in a family that didn't really get into the whole Santa thing, and my dysfunctional one went overboard and then we suffered long afterwards paying for it.
So in our family we keep it very calm and try to stay controlled. We've never had them make wish lists etc. And I know in their Catholic school system there is quite a bit of effort on doing for others during the whole season.
Great post !!
Wonderful post. I shared the video on FB.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully said. Right and challenging and so, so true.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Jamie
I have been running a current series on advent conspiracy. I am learning so much about how our holiday's can be great worship through our giving and loving. It has been a huge transformative process. Glad to hear you are getting involved!
ReplyDelete