Oh how glad I am that this movement got some press time!
My family stopped exchanging gifts back when I was five years old. Over the years we have chosen other things to do to celebrate-volunteering, making baskets of goodies for neighbors and friends, donating to organizations who will provide goats and chickens and such to families in third world countries. I give gifts to a few friends, but never make a Christmas list and am slightly appalled at the excess of consumerism that seems to have taken over the system.
I don't really get the Focus on the Family Stand for Christmas campaign either. Why do we want to make sure that Christmas is associated with rampant materialism and corporate greed? For more on this topic, check out the Raccoon's blog, which I thought put it very eloquently.
Gifts should be an expression of love, one that comes from a desire to bless, not a sense of obligation or desire to keep up appearances. Christmas gifts can be that, but it is also very easy to get caught up in the world's perspective on possessions and status. We would do well to examine our motives and teach our children why we give at Christmas.
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