Beyond Elmo T.M.X.
by Candice Watters on 11/27/2006 at 12:06 PM
It's hard to believe, but for the younger set, Elmo has re-emerged this holiday as the IT toy. (Play Station 3 seems to be "the one" if you're over 6.) If you've ever seen -- or more importantly heard -- the falsetto talking toy, you'd probably agree with me that it's the last thing you'd want under your tree, or the tree of your nieces and nephews or anyone else you spend a lot of time with, this year.
Thankfully, Elmo and PS3 are selling out even before they hit the shelves, at prices well above suggested retail, so we're likely to be spared both from any well-meaning friends or relatives. But even without the hottest toys under our tree, we're still having a hard time shifting the focus of our 6- and 4-year-old away from "the getting" to "the giving" and even more importantly, to the expectation of Advent.
Part of the challenge surely stems from my own efforts to stop dreaming about all the cool things I'll be able to do with the new digital camera I'm hoping for and start preparing my heart and mind for Emmanuel -- God with us.
This coming Sunday begins the celebration of Advent and with it, an opportunity to deliberately shift our gaze from Santa to Savior. We've got a wreath with candles ready to go on the dining room table and a book of activities for little ones. Last year we made stars with the names of Jesus on them and the Scripture that proclaims them. Every time the kids looked up at the light from which they hung, we talked about those names and by Christmas, had memorized them.
And this year I'm going to relish a little book called Preparing for Jesus, by Walter Wangerin. It was a gift from a dear friend who bought two copies so we can read, and ponder, together.
I'd love to hear from readers who have other creative ways of keeping the emphasis on what really matters this season: the Bethlehem baby who would be King.
1. Samuel said the following at 1:36 PM on Nov 27:
The story of the nativity has become so familiar to me that it can easily lose its influence for me. In order to keep it fresh, I have three perspectives to offer that help me to be excited and impacted by the birth of our Savior.
1. Reflection on the mystery of the Incarnation. We take fore granted that God became flesh in the Christ child, but when we really reflect on the fact that God became fully human it is mind-blowing.
2. Remember that this Christ child, this baby boy, was born so that He might die in our place. As He grew in His mother's womb, breathed and cried His first, and nursed at His mother's breast the cross was set before Him. Christmas cannot be separated from Easter.
3. Do not think solely of Christmas as the time when God the Son was first taken into His nursery, but view it from the realm of spiritual warfare. The Incarnation was the D-Day of our salvific history. When the second Person of the Trinity took on humanity in an infant, it was the sign that the reign of darkness and the slavery of souls was to be defeated.
I hope this helps others as it helps me.
2. John M. said the following at 2:08 PM on Nov 27:
Never really been a "stuff" guy. It's hard to get excited about new toys when you know the excitement will soon wear off and the object will seem mundane.
Even as a small child, I think I always new that the presents and all were meaningless without Jesus. I don't remember my parents specifically telling me that, but they must have said it somehow in a way that made me remember it. Now they're dead unfortunately and I can't ask them about it.
Plus the culture back then was just more Christian. Even the holiday cartoons talked about the "holiness" of the season, and there was more overtly religious programming.
Maybe you could make a ritual out of reading the nativity story together with the kids.
3. Leah said the following at 5:22 PM on Nov 27:
Last year we were on the road over the Christmas season and mum read us all a story, although I can't remember its name... it was a children's story book but it was long (a chapter every two days or so for a few weeks).
It wasn't strictly about the nativity -- it was a fictional story about a boy who was separated from his shepherd family and so launched a journey to find them, along the way being kidnapped, then escaping and trying to elude his kidnapper for the rest of the trip. But eventually the boy ends up finding his family, and that night, a whole host of angels visit them... and you can guess the rest :) If I remember the name I'll drop you another line.
When we were younger mum had a pile of Christmas books that came out with the "Christmas box", many of them containing traditional christmas stories (like the Night Before Christmas) but there were also nativity books with them. It made the nativity, and Jesus, just as synonymous with Christmas as Santa and gifts.
4. Rebecca said the following at 7:03 AM on Nov 28:
Observing Advent has always been important to my family and I treasure those memories. As I contemplate the Christmas season (my favorite time of the year, hands down)I have been looking for alternatives to change the way that I view it, before I have any children to consider.
One of the decisions that I have made is to limit the gifts that I give at Christmas to small, more symbolic presents and save the big gifts for birthdays. This allows me to really celebrate the individuals in my life with more intentionality and focus, limits the amount of money I spend at the end of the year, and hopefully allows me to put more focus on the real meaning of Advent. I have talked with a number of my friends about this and they agree that moving the gift-giving to another part of the year just makes it easier. My parents and extended family are not that into gifts, so it makes it even easier for me.
I am curious, however, to hear about other Boundless readers' answers to Christmas materialism.
5. Roxanne said the following at 10:43 PM on Nov 29:
He Makes All Things Beautiful In His Time
This comment is in response to the article entitled, "Defending the Cost of Delaying Marriage." I just want to say that I agree with parts of your article, and I understand some of the points you are trying to communicate. I do want to point out that I am a single woman, and it is my desire to follow Christ with everything I have. I have a desire to get married someday, and I know that God will show me when the time is right. As of right now I need to focus all of my energies on running towards Christ with everything I have. I believe that He is using me in the lives of others as a young single woman. I also believe that it is important for people to have high standards when it comes to the person they marry. I would rather be single for the rest of my life, than settle for less than what God has for me. What I mean by that is, I will not marry a man who does not have Jesus Christ as the main center of his life, and I will not marry someone who does not have Jesus Christ as their passion. Nothing compares with knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Right now it is me and Jesus, and I believe the Lord has built my faith up in Him, by not bringing the person I am supposed to marry into my life at this time. The Lord has also brought other Christians into my life to encourage me as I walk the path God has called me to walk. I have come to the realization that this life is not about me, and there are so many lives out there that need to be touched. There are so many hurting people in this world. I believe that God can use me to touch those hurting people for Him whether I am single or married, but at this time He is choosing to use me as a single woman. I think we should stop focusing so much on finding the right person, and concentrate more on being the right person. I do believe God has a sovereign will and plan for our lives. I believe it is so important to trust God in all areas of our lives. Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." (NKJV)