Ben has been talking about materialism, worship and idolatry. I am becoming more and more aware of this aspect of struggle in our Christian culture as well. The study I am doing in Beth Moore is really contributing to this (we are doing the series on Daniel - highly recommended), but I am also becoming more and more keenly aware of it as we approach the Christmas season.

Growing up we would always laugh at my mom because every year she would say how much she hated Christmas. My parents would do cool things when were growing up where they would adopt a needy family or an elderly person in the community that didn’t have family, and we would bless them. We would bring boxes of food and goodies to their houses and bless them with things that they needed. It was important to my parents that we get our eyes off ourselves and not be selfish.

One time when I was older, I asked my mom what made her hate Christmas so much. She said it was the pressure that she felt every year to get the best stuff for her kids, to outdo what she had done the year before and to make sure no one was disappointed. She said “We just have really lost the reason for the season…and I HATE shopping.” I understood what she was saying, but not fully until I was old enough to buy presents and have my own children. Don’t get me wrong…I love giving gifts to my children. I love the priceless expressions on their faces when they experience the tree, the lights, the presents and the food.

I understand the pressure that she was feeling all those years. I am fighting against that desire in me to “Keep up with the Joneses.” Today my daughter told me that the neighbors already have tons of Christmas presents under their tree. I immediately started having this feeling of panic because I know she won’t be getting as many presents as that child. What will she think? What will they think when they ask her what she got? etc, etc. I immediately felt a check in my heart that I was going somewhere unhealthy in my thoughts. I got myself in line, remembering that buying all the best stuff is not what it is all about.

I also came home and told Ben that we really need to focus on instilling in our children what this season really does mean. We talk to them about it, but we have to bombard her with it in such a way that she cannot escape its reality. It is constantly thrown in their faces everywhere they turn during this season that they NEED the next best toy or clothes, etc. We must be doing the same thing with the truth of the gospel. We need to be bringing it before them constantly. I cannot let the world have more of a say in my children’s life than I do. To be honest, I don’t care that my child is the odd one that doesn’t believe in Santa. It won’t scar her.

So, during this season I am having to keep a more vigilent watch on what my intentions are and where my thoughts are going. More importantly I have to protect my children from being sucked in by that materialistic idolatry thing that creeps in and steals the spotlight from the One who deserves all of our attention, all of our praise and all of the glory that is due HIM.