ArticlesReader.com Menu

Newest Articles
Most Viewed Articles
ArticlesReader.com RSS
Submit Article
Login
Signup

Search the articles

Articles Main Categories

Advice
Animals
Automobiles
Business
Career
Communications
Computer Programming
Computers
Entertainment
Environment
Family
Fashion
Finance
Food
Health & Medical
Home & Garden
Humor
Internet Business
Internet Marketing
Legal
Leisure & Recreation
Marketing
Other
Politics
Reference & Education
Religion
Self Improvement
Sports
Technology & Science
Travel
Writing

Subscribe

Receive alert message from us when new articles submitted to our site for free.

Syndicate

Related Products

Home::Advice

Have You Forgotten Him

Author : Rose DesRochers

May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year
through! ~Author Unknown

Christmas used to be my favorite holiday as a child. I loved
everything about it, the decorations, food, carols, family and
of course, presents. But as I became an adult, I found myself
disappointed with the holidays. The true meaning of Christmas
was somehow lost.

Somewhere the joyous day that I remembered as a child was traded
for a big commercialized nightmare. Jesus had been forgotten. No
room in the inn has been replaced with 'sold out' signs. Society
has taken Christ out of Christmas. I remember when it was a day
of giving, prayer, kindness, and helping those less fortunate.
But the horrible reality is Santa has become the only symbol of
Christmas.

Children are literally bombarded with commercials during the
holidays. Stores are packed with frantic Christmas shoppers and
Jesus has somehow been lost in the chase for the perfect
Christmas gift. A 2003 survey by Leger Marketing indicates that
each individual Canadian will spend an average of $575 on
Christmas. According to The Center for a New American Dream
(http://www.newdream.org/) the amount of money an average
American planned to spend on holiday gifts in 2001 was $1,042.

It's your story, and it's my story and everywhere that we turn,
Christmas comes with a price tag. Good grief Charlie Brown, I
believe you were right in your lament about Christmas. Society
has sure changed since a Charlie Brown's Christmas aired on
Television.

Even the Grinch who stole Christmas learned a valuable lesson -
that Christmas is something much more that presents.

Though Children may be "bombarded," with the influence to want
things, leading by example is one way that we can teach them the
true meaning of Christmas. Your child most likely has no idea
what this Holiday is about and as an adult, you have most likely
forgotten yourself.

Here are some ways you can teach your children the true meaning
of Christmas.

Last year my husband and I canceled Christmas. Not entirely -
but we educated our children, with the meaning of the Holiday.

1. I had my children go through their old toys and clothes, and
what they did not play with anymore, we donated to the annual
toy drive. The clothes that didn't fit were donated to the
Salvation Army. I think that it really made my children
appreciate the gifts that they did receive.

2. As you snuggle down in your warm bed tonight, remember that
many people are homeless. Buy canned goods and other
nonperishable items and deliver them to your local food bank.
You can also help the less fortunate people of your community
this holiday season by volunteering at a soup kitchen.

3. Take a basket of homemade bake goods to a senior.

4. Engage your children in activities that demonstrate the true
meaning of Christmas. December 9th I'm looking forward to seeing
my son perform in the church Christmas pageant.

5. Visit the elderly in a nursing home - Last year my daughter
with her youth group sang Christmas carols at the local nursing
homes.

6. If you have young children - teach them that Santa only
brings one gift as he has so many other children to bring to. By
doing this, you have already begun to teach your child limits.
For my children who are now older, I let them know what is
within my budget and what isn't.

7. Before giving gifts this Christmas visit
buynothingchristmas.org. Buy Nothing Christmas was founded by
Canadian Mennonites to combat North American consumerism and
needless spending.

8. Do you ever feel that your friends and family don't really
need the gifts you give them? Then Buy gifts for the world's
poor in their name through Tear's Really Useful Gift Catalogue:
< http://www.tear.org.au/giftcatalogue/index.shtml >

9. Attend church with your children.

10. Give a gift to World Vision this Holiday <
http://www.worldvision.ca>, donate to The World Wildlife Fund <
http://www.wwf.ca>, plant a greener tomorrow <
http://www.evergreen.ca >, Support international fair trade by
purchasing handicrafts at Ten Thousand Villages <
http://www.tenthousandvillages.com >

By teaching our children that is more important to give than
receive, we are teaching them the true meaning of Christmas.

Last year I had a quiet Christmas at home with just my husband
and two children. We exchanged our gifts, watched some movies,
played some games, and had a nice Christmas dinner. During our
meal, we prayed and told reasons why we were thankful and in the
evening we lit a candle in remembrance of loved ones. Within
those precious family moments spent, I believe we learned the
true meaning of Christmas.

Is Christmas just about presents and decorations or is there
something that we are missing? What do I want for Christmas? I
want for the season's blessing to reach far and beyond the
pretty presents wrapped with a bow and glowing with tiny lights,
which are under your tree, I want peace on earth, goodwill to
all and I want Christ put back into Christmas.

Spam emails More free articles

More related feeds

Have you forgotten me already? ~desu
Have you forgotten me already? ~desu.

Have you forgotten 9/11/01?
Have you forgotten 9/11/01? Created by slytherinfreak on 2008-09-06 19:21:57 (3 Responses, 0 Stars)

A) People who have been tagged must write their answers on their ...
What are you doing last night at 11pm? idk, forgotten. 52. Are you happy with your love life right now? idk. 53. What song best describe your love life? idk. 54. Does the person know that you like him/her? idk, maybe. ...

Hidden but not forgotten
Have you ever felt forgotten by God? Do you feel invisible? Does God seem to be blessing everyone except you? Do your expectations of God seem to meet with cold indifference from Him? If your answer is "yes," then rejoice, because you ...

WHERE IS YOUR WORTH?
Have you also discovered how alarming the high level of unemployment in our society is today? In Europe, it is estimated that 65% of people are without any jobs. Majority are youths whom are dropouts. Many said unemployment level is ...

Because someday you might ask how your father and I met - Part I
I do remember going to sleep feeling slightly disappointed and cross. Like something had passed me by that shouldn't have, something I'd missed seeing which I should have seen. The next day however, I'd forgotten all about him. ...

FOURTH AND LONG - PASS OR PUNT??
He held on to his attacker, even after he has his hip knocked out of joint, and demanded from him a blessing. And that's when the stranger tells him that his name is no longer Jacob, but Israel, because, as he put it, “you have striven ...

Chapter 3
"You were not being the rebel on my ship this time, Stephen," he barked. "You have little right to be protecting her." S: So I guess that’s Jack’s catchphrase now. "Jack, have you forgotten what it's like to be in love for the first ...

Evening Prayer 9.6.08
all your rapids and floods have gone over me. The LORD grants his loving-kindness in the daytime; * in the night season his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I will say to the God of my strength, “Why have you forgotten ...

Whom Can You Trust?
We are part and parcel of God, but now we have forgotten Him, and that is why another of His potencies, maya, has taken us to this world and has covered our souls. We have forgotten who we are and who is God, and we are now in an ...

Have You Forgotten Him

Related articles