So this is Christmas....

Christmas this year is different, for me at least.  For the first time, we have NO money for Christmas presents and our gifts are all provided by Avon.  I guess I get some sort of a discount for selling it, but it really isn't much. This year I realized that Christmas in Canada is very materialistic.  Well, I knew that, but it never dawned on me until now.  People in the malls, in the parking lots, in Wal-Mart, are so rude!!  Everyone is in "rush mode."  That's not fun for anyone.  Joel works at Canadian Tire, and has been for about 2 years, and this year he really doesn't like the Christmas season because of the people.  In my little mind, I thought people were supposed to be nicer during the holidays, but maybe things have changed.  Maybe everything and everyone is about themselves.  Everyone always thinks about the good deals, or all the good sales that come out this season.  But, when you don't have any money, you don't really care about the deals or the sales.  Christmas is about spending time with family.  Thinking about the things that you already have and being grateful for them.  On Christmas many kids will be disappointed because maybe their parents didn't buy them what they wanted.  Some kids will be ecstatic because "Santa" brought them the new 3DS that they asked for.  It does feel good, giving someone something they like and seeing their face light up.

But I wish that all the crabby and "rush mode" people would stop and think about those on the other side of the world that don't even know what Christmas is.  They don't have a calendar so they don't even know that it's Christmas time.  No one will be there for them to give them presents, no one will be there to buy them food, or clothes.  Maybe their homes have been washed away in a landslide or some sort of crazy storm.  How many children out there are searching for their mom's and dad's.  How many kids have had to become "parents" at the age of 5 by taking care of their 3 year old siblings.  There are children all over the world that have to suffer, and cry, and die without their parents.  And here we are wasting our money on ourselves and complaining because of slow service, or because the item is out of stock when on the internet it said it was in stock.  How selfish are we?  How many times have I walked by the Salvation army person smiling to them, saying in my head "I don't have change" yet I'm walking into a Wal-Mart and leaving with toy Nerf guns for the kiddos.  I'm not saying that I'm better than all the selfish westerners, I'm saying that I am one of those people and have been in a "rush mode" for all the past years.  I have been selfish and never really stopped to think about people on the other side of the world.  Now, I am.  And I hope everyone else will stop and think and pray this Christmas for those on the other side of the world struggling for survival.  Struggling to take care of their children, struggling to keep sanitary food on a non existent table.  I hope everyone in the western world will stop before eating their massive meals and say a prayer for those who eat garbage every day of the year.  I hope that this side of the world will be thankful for what they have and not whine about what they don't have.

I pray that this side of the world will change and realize what Christmas is about.  Jesus, our King, was born in a manger.  He was born in a barn because no one wanted to house him.  He was born in a barn surrounded by animals and hay.  Christmas is about Christ.  It is about remembering who we are as Christians and for being thankful for what Jesus has done for us.  Being thankful that God gave us His son to save us.  I think we should all remember Jesus on Christmas.  And as we remember Jesus, we should remember what He did on this earth.  He not only saved us from eternal hell.  He helped feed the needy, He healed the sick, and He dined with those that people would call unworthy.  Jesus is Lord, and He did all that while He was on earth.  We are nowhere near being "lords" or "kings" and yet we won't even spend some time with the poor or needy, or even give our spare change.  Shame on us.  Shame on me.  Let's all remember what Christmas is about, and even if we can't give any change or gifts, or our time to those who need it, let's give our prayers and our thoughts to those who are less fortunate this Christmas season.  That's all I ask.

With love on this Christmas Eve,

Mari