Christmas thoughts.....

sorry couldn't get the video to play straight from my blog - click on the link and it will take you to You Tube - worth watching!
We have a family tradition to watch Christmas movies throughout December.  Last night we watched The Grinch - I have always liked this song - but this year one thing that I couldn't stop thinking about was Cindy Lou's heart.  With all the hustle and bustle of Christmas, the Lists.....the Parties.....the cooking.....the deciding when and where to go each day, school plays and parties, the fear of forgetting someone or not having a gift to give them when they give you one! working in all the families, what to get, how much to spend, rush here & there, stress, Money, losing control!!!!! the list goes on and on.  In the movie little Cindy Lou was very troubled by all the "materialism" and "commercialism" is what I got out of it this year.  In a Bible study I had done it was talking about being content....vs. ........materialism.  In the movie it was like everyone was so "busy" buying their gifts, and trying to out do the neighbors lights, hurrying around to get the best deal - that they lost sight of each other, the true meaning of Christmas and of those in need. 
I know you must think I am crazy - it's just a Dr. Seuss movie, but last night I couldn't stop thinking and asking myself....if I woke up Christmas morning and every single gift, every thing in my house was GONE..... would I "SEE" my family and be thankful that they were not harmed or gone?  Would I be able to hold their hand and look up to God and know that as long as I have God, and my family that all is well?  Or would I be screaming, crying, counting up in my head how much money we spent, and it was all gone? It might be radical, but it makes me think how would I react? How is my heart? 
In the Bible study I was talking about it said, "Materialism is fueled by greed and a hunger for security. Status is grounded in the things that I own. The quest for just "a little more" drives the direction of my days."
The God-view of it is - "Contentment is the God-view Christ wants to weave through my life.  He longs to give me an eternal perspective about the things around me - to see them as blessings and tools for His glory.
So it's not wrong to receive, just see them as a blessing and use them to give God glory in all things! I just have to pray not to be consumed by what I want and what I don't have!
To be content.....in all things.
Like the song above says, find the LOVE in Christmas!
I love Christmas - I love the decorations.  I love making Christmas candy with my mom and aunts.  I love traditions that we have come to cherish over the years.  I love the excitement of Christmas morning watching the kids go through their stockings and open their gifts.  I love our families being all together.  I love to give (and yes I love to receive!). 
Yes I know Jesus is the reason for the season, but Jesus should be celebrated every single day of our lives! 
I pray that God will help keep me grounded to open my eyes to SEE those who need a hug, a kind word, a helping hand.  If I come across a "Grinch" that I will not run away, but give them a smile and a kind word. :-)
1 Timothy 6:6-11
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
Merry Christmas....