a new outlook

a wise christian once urged, "may we not spend christmas, but keep it."

the past few years, the materialism and commercialism that christmas has become has really caused my heart to ache. i have found myself becoming somewhat of a grinch and little critical of those who focus more on shopping and busying themselves with "busyness" than on the true meaning of the season. i struggle myself to not get caught up in all the excitement of spending money and buying gifts and saying "YES" to every activity that is available during the month of december.  so, to avoid yet another year of regrets and stress(and a critical grinchy attitude), i have been on a mission to transform how we celebrate christmas in our home. a more simplified, less materialistic, less stressful, more christ-centered christmas. it is definitely a work in progress(traditions are hard to change), not to mention the idea isn't completely sold to all members of my family, but i faith that even small changes will be beneficial.

so, in preparation for christmas this year, i have been reading back issues of the ensign. the idea came through INSPIRATION.  i am sure of it.  i had been praying for some guidance on how to approach the upcoming christmas season, and VOILA, "read the december issues of the ensign" came into my mind. i love when that happens. so, for about 1 1/2 months i have been doing just that.  it has been such a blessing in my life.  reading the words of the prophets and the love they have for the saviour has really strengthened my own testimony of the saviour.  during this process,(which i have also found to work when i read my scriptures with a purpose as well), answers i was seeking have come, and not only that, my heart was changed in the process.  the love i feel again in my heart, has allowed the spirit to bring ideas into my mind and to help me have a better attitude.  i don't feel dread for the upcoming season but hope, joy and peace.  that in and of itself is the best gift i could receive.

so what will we do this season to have a christ-centered home? what were some of the things i learned?  first, it is an attitude. second, it is a prayer in your heart. third, it is preparation.  fourth, it is communication.  lastly, it is combining what we are already doing in our home with the activities of the season.

being happy and having a positive attitude is pivotal for me.  being an example of our saviour's life in our home is the best way to have a christ-centered season.

praying for guidance and inspiration to know what will work for our chirst-centered christmas has been helpful.  i have also learned it is individual for everyone.  it brings peace to our souls and helps to keep our thoughts heavenward and not on the here and now.

preparing spiritually has been a wonderful experience for me.  while my family wasn't involved in my ensign reading, i think i will be using many of the beautiful stories i read in upcoming fhe's.  reading the NT is another way to prepare spiritually.   we read the NT as a family each year, and we enjoy hearing the stories of jesus.  we also supplement our scripture reading with the new bible videos on LDS.org.

communication is another key component.  i have learned that speaking candidly about what you expect for the holidays and getting input from everyone in the family is important.  letting them know that christmas this year will be more about giving than about receiving.  not that we don't want to buy gifts(because we really do), but that they shouldn't expect to receive everything their hearts may desire and WANT.  setting limits isn't meant to be a punishment, but an opportunity to focus more on serving god's children and learning self-discipline.

the last thing i have learned in preparation for the christmas season is that we can do the special stuff without it becoming a burden.  one common theme i found in my reading was that the prophets focused a lot on the gifts of christmas, or the gifts of the saviour.  i decided to use this idea in my advent. tonight as a family, we came up with 25 gifts our heavenly father and jesus christ have given us.  then tomorrow night during FHE, we will each take these topics and look up scriptures to go with them.  next, i will put them into our advent socks and each day during our scripture study we will pull out our gift of christma(i will add a little treat for some of them too). this way it isn't another thing to do, but is easily combined with something we already do in our family.

we can also do any gift wrapping, gift shopping, treat making, secret service we choose to do on our fhe nights or on sunday afternoons.  this is another way to get the family involved in helping, but  it doesn't take away from other things we have going on.

on christmas eve, we will attend the live nativity at our local nazerene church.  it is a beautiful event and really brings to life the spirit of the true meaning of christmas.

i am truly excited to simplify and focus our christmas more on christ.  i feel blessed to know that even without christmas, we as a family strive to have a christ-centered home.  i am truly grateful to my heavenly father for blessing my life with the gospel, with the testimony that i have and with the atonement which was so freely and lovingly given as the greatest gift of all by his beloved son jesus christ!!


Happy Christmas!