Saturday, November 01, 2008

Interesting...

I saw this ad in a magazine while I was getting my hair done and it sure struck a chord with me.

I'd be interested in your thoughts about this.

(click on the picture to see it bigger, and to read what it says beneath the picture)

6 comments:

  1. That's a very provoking ad! I like it though. In our house, we welcome Santa (and the Easter Bunny too), while remembering, recognizing, and celebrating the real reasons for the holidays. The fun parts of the holidays are important parts of childhood; Christ is of utmost importance for our whole lives. :)

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  2. I love it!

    I grew up with only celebrating Santa and I had no idea there was more to Christmas until I became a Christian when I was in high school. When I learned about the true meaning of Christmas (the birth of Jesus), I decided to only celebrate Him. I slowly but surely got rid of all my Santa stuff because I wanted to be set apart; I wanted others to recognize "who" it was we were celebrating. My daughter has a wonderful time. We do really fun things but all for the glory of Jesus. We have a big birthday party for Jesus (party hats, cake and all).

    I know everyone does different things. The main thing is to teach our children about Jesus and His sacrificial love for us (now that's a reason to celebrate!)

    I thought I would share a poem that I love about the topic....

    Suppose it were your birthday
    And all your friends would come
    And gather ’round your fireplace
    There in your happy home.

    They come with smiles and gladness,
    And bring their presents, too.
    But when they start to share them,
    There’s not a one for you.

    They give them to each other,
    A grand and costly lot.
    But for the guest of honor,
    They somehow just forgot.

    You say such things don’t happen,
    Nor should it ever be;
    It seems too crude and cruel,
    For folks like you and me.

    But friend, have you considered
    Just this is what men do?
    Not, of course, to humans,
    But of our Lord, its true.

    We celebrate His birthday
    With all our pomp and style;
    But give to one another
    And grieve Him all the while.

    ’Tis Christ we claim to honor
    At this glad Christmastime;
    Don’t spend on friends the dollars
    And give Him just a dime.

    To give to one another
    Indeed is very nice;
    But best of all to Jesus,
    For Him let’s sacrifice.

    His cause too long has suffered
    By thoughtless, selfish men.
    Let’s bring to Christ the firstfruits,
    And give our best to Him.

    Tan, Paul Lee: Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : A Treasury of Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and Christian Workers. Garland TX : Bible Communications, 1996, c1979

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  3. Christmas for us is always Christ first, Santa second. We also have a birthday cake on the 25th and I love that my children look forward to it so much, and I tear up every time they sing "Happy Birthday Dear Jesus!" . So lovely.
    Last Christmas my children were so excited about the holiday but whenever they talked about it, it was almost always about Christ's birth, and not as much about Santa. I found the same thing this past Easter as well. So heartwarming!

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  4. Wow, I had a lot of reading to catch up on - - from here to the current post!

    We are like you, Christ is the center of our holiday and the reason we have anything to celebrate....all the rest is just fluff and fun!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Christmas for us is always Christ first, Santa second. We also have a birthday cake on the 25th and I love that my children look forward to it so much, and I tear up every time they sing "Happy Birthday Dear Jesus!" . So lovely.
    Last Christmas my children were so excited about the holiday but whenever they talked about it, it was almost always about Christ's birth, and not as much about Santa. I found the same thing this past Easter as well. So heartwarming!

    ReplyDelete
  6. That's a very provoking ad! I like it though. In our house, we welcome Santa (and the Easter Bunny too), while remembering, recognizing, and celebrating the real reasons for the holidays. The fun parts of the holidays are important parts of childhood; Christ is of utmost importance for our whole lives. :)

    ReplyDelete