A Christmas Poem…1 Corinthians, Chapter 13

CHRISTMAS VERSION OF I CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 13
(Author Unknown)

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If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family… I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family… I’m just another cook.

If I work at a soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not how love to my family… it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ… I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things. Believes all things. Hopes all things. Endures all things.  Love never fails.

Video games will break. Pearl necklaces will be lost.  Golf clubs will rust.  But giving the gift of love will endure.

Wishing you a joyous and meaningful Christmas!

♥♥♥

© 2012 careyscotttalks.com

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Making It Your Own

Gift-giving.  Decorating.  Advent calendars.  Santa.

There are so many different camps you can land in when it comes to celebrating Christmas.  Just with gift-giving…

• Some set an equal budget for each child.
• Others give gifts generously.
• Several give just three gifts because that’s what the wise men did.
• A few give no gifts at all.
• Others stick to the four-gift rule: Something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read.
• Still some give one gift to charity for every gift they buy their kids.

It makes me wonder if there is a wrong way and a right way to approach giving gifts to your kids.  Are you spoiling your kids if they get too many… or is it a form of child-abuse if you don’t give enough?

How do you know?

With so many different ways to celebrate, do you ever feel like you have to “explain” your rationale as to which camp you subscribe?  Is there guilt attached to your decision?  What about pride?

Can you keep Jesus at the center and still give generously or hang lights?  Are you wrecking your kids if you don’t find time to serve in a soup kitchen?

Are you missing the boat if you don’t do an advent calendar?  Is one better than another?

Are you able to acknowledge Santa without criticism?  Or do others judge you because you choose to be honest about the man in the red suit?

Ugh.  All the talk of rights and wrongs drives me nuts.

Well for what it’s worth, I think…

Wanna read the rest? 

Come visit me at CWAHM today where I give my simple response to it all.  And I’d love to hear your thoughts, too.

Hope to see you!

©2011 careyscotttalks.com

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