Bad Gifts

Yes, I am aware how cliche it is to blog about how Christmas just isn't Christmas anymore but I stumbled across a video that I wanted to share.  Jimmy Kimmel recently asked parents to give their kids early Christmas presents with the humorous twists that they give them something awful and video their reaction.  The video is admittedly funny but at the same time disturbing.  Watch these kids reaction to their "bad" gifts.  One kiddo receives a half eaten sandwich and complains.  I met a few kids in Ethiopia last month that would have been ecstatic and appreciative for a sandwich, even a half eaten one.

How do we shake this?  How do we as parents convey to our children that they are unbelievably blessed?  All I can come up with is to get them on the missions field young and show them what the rest of the world looks like.

One last note, I have celebrated Christmas for 25 years now but it has never meant as much to me as it does this year.  As I have grown in my understanding of the person of Jesus and fallen in love with Him, I find Christmas meaning so much more.  Remember this Christmas that we are celebrating the long awaited arrival of God on earth.  Christmas is the celebration of God's stepping out of Heaven to give the world hope through Truth and to bridge the gap between man and God by paying man's debt.  He put on flesh, told us the Truth of where we came from, who we are, for what purpose we were created, and then laid down his life and took our debt on himself.  This is literally the most important event in human history and is the greatest gift we could ever receive!  Christmas is so much better when we reflect and remember what we are really celebrating! 

God, give us perspective this year.  Help us to realize the vastness of our blessing and provision and move our hearts to care for and provide for those with less!