thinkingNovember 3, 2008 3:58 pm
the holiday season has started
I’ve been trying to figure out how to do this without coming off like a holier than thou a-hole. Any ideas? Thoughts?
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I LOVE it! Every year, I am more and more disgusted by the consumerism that our country thinks is Christmas. We know better.
Right now, our youth group is supporting blood:water mission (http://www.bloodwatermission.com/index.php) which was started several years ago by Jars of Clay. It has really touched my heart. ONE DOLLAR-what it costs us to buy a bottle of water-can provide clean water to a person in Africa for an entire year!
I’m thinking of making a donation to them on behalf of those on my Christmas list. Then, I could give the people on my list a certificate or card that says I donated in their name. That way, I am giving my money to a solid cause and fulfilling that “need” to give someone “something” for Christmas. I haven’t thought it all the way through yet, but I’m definitely moved to fight against the commercial aspect of Christmas.
The big idea now is: How do I want my children to remember Christmas? I don’t want them to remember it for Santa Claus alone, that’s certain!
Comment by Jennifer Hill Watson — November 3, 2008 @ 7:23 pm
Wow that was an excellent video!
Comment by Kristin Schuppe — November 3, 2008 @ 7:37 pm
Oh Morgan, that video is AWESOME! I’m so glad you posted that! YOu should put it on facebook too!
Comment by Lindsey — November 3, 2008 @ 8:15 pm
Thank you for posting this. I had a not so pleasant debate with some family members recently about this very thing. I think we agreed, reluctantly, to disagree. Of course, I came across to them as a selfish ingrate who is too cheap to purchase material gifts when it’s not even about that at all. Ugh. My husband and I are donating to our favorite charities on behalf of our family members on our “gift” list this year and I’m praying they see the bigger picture. Good for you for posting and I totally hear ya!
Comment by Shea — November 3, 2008 @ 9:07 pm
And to add on how you may approach this yourself…if you’re wanting people to do this instead of purchasing a gift for you, then I say you give them the idea by doing it yourself this year. It has proven to be a sensitive subject for some people in my experience. In hindsight, I would have never even suggested it to my family member and only introduce the idea on Christmas morning when they open their card that explained the wonderful gift that was made on their behalf.
I hope this helps!
Comment by Shea — November 3, 2008 @ 9:16 pm
thanks for everyone’s input. It’s so crazy to me that this is such a touchy subject. I think donating in the name of the people on your Christmas list is a good idea. I guess we just have to hope they understand where we’re coming from on that. we’ll see how it goes…I may be permanently putting myself on everyone’s crap list this year:)
Comment by morgancollins — November 3, 2008 @ 10:28 pm
I would love for you to give a donation in my name instead of a gift.
Comment by mommy — November 4, 2008 @ 11:03 am
morgan hit me up.i will be downtown christmas morning. we will be doing the coat drive again and will be handing them out christmas morning. i will not get any presents this year instead i will give many. to me it is not a touchy subject. if someone gets affended then they need to look inside there heart. the true gift is seeing the peoples faces you serve not because you have to because you want to. we are in talks of doing something bigger this year also.
Comment by shawn — November 4, 2008 @ 12:10 pm
this is exactly what our christmas series is all about. ridiculous.
Comment by david — November 5, 2008 @ 3:47 pm
The point of the video was not to spend money on a gift that means nothing. Rather invest that money into a true gift. When it comes to friends and loved ones make them a gift or get them something inexpensive but extremely relevant to a need or desire. This is where christian definitely take the next step that is not the logical one in this line of thinking.
I do not fully agree with the idea of donating money in someone else’s name. The thought and idea behind it is on the surface great. Still it is not necessarily the wisest thing to do something in someone else’s name, especially with out their knowing or permission. There is an opportunity that this will be an insult and then an injury of actually not getting a gift. Also what if you were to give me a gift of [I donated it to SUCH AND SUCH] but I might say hey I don’t want to donate to [SUCH AND SUCH] I would rather you donate [My Gift] to [THIS OR THAT].
Remember, You are giving someone a gift. Make it a gift or do not give them anything, but this is more of a personal view on the point of giving nothing instead. More importantly why not tell them to give your gifts to a cause of your choice rather than giving you a material gift. This is where you can see the splinter of selfishness in this line of thinking.
“You can give me a gift but I will donate money in your name to a cause as a gift for you.”
This statement does not nor will it ever be one that someone should say to someone, no matter how good the Hallmark card is.
It should be.
“Here is an amazing gift from me now the next time you think of giving me a gift donate that money to [SOME CAUSE of my choosing].
Comment by John Mackey III — November 8, 2008 @ 3:55 pm