Christmas in a Bow

I was reading this amazing article a second ago and LOVED this bullet point...

9. A Glossed Over Christmas Story | The frenzy of December–the tree and lights and gifts, the parties and food and celebration overshadow the true Christmas story..the one that started in a smelly stable, with an exhausted girl and a dirty birth. One that would change the world and our our lives. This humble, imperfect place is the heart of Christmas and it’s a story our kids need to hear.

This is absolutely perfect!!

The world needs to shout this one from the rooftops!! Where have we forgotten that the story didn't start in a perfectly dressed up fancy room!?

Don't get me wrong I like shiny lights, pretty bows, and perfectly placed decorations too, but over the years so many factors don't allow those things to take place in our home. We don't have centerpieces and fancy place settings or serving plates. Mismatched and hand me downs (from friends and family) are sprinkled throughout the halls.

Reading this part from Kristen though was freeing from the age of needing to have activities planned and the perfect "Pinterest-y" decorated house. Kind of goes back to my post the other day... the age of comparison due to social media. We see all the pretty cropped pictures. Sharing is great but then we get bit by that nasty little envy bug and all changes. Our hearts get sad and we go broke trying to keep up with similar looks. We browse halls for hours trying to find things that will soon be forgotten and forget ourselves to make the memories with what God has given us.

Christ came to this world in the most bare bones simplest of fashions. Hearts were full and people came from far and wide to celebrate. Simple and homey. But it wasn't what was surrounding him that made perfect... it was unconditional love. It was that their focus was on the WHO not the WHAT.

I get caught up in the must get X amount for the kids to have a good Christmas. The fact of the matter is that isn't the case at all. I'm failing them if I think it's just about the amount or certain gift but I forget to pass on and share the heart of the reason we have Christmas to begin with.

I'd rather be winning in them celebrating, embracing, and seeking more of Christ than what's wrapped under the tree. We have to try hard though to change the aroma of our homes this season. To change the focus off of what the world says we should be focusing on and help the hearts of our children to see the real focus.

Don't get down if your house doesn't compare. If your spread doesn't come close or if your tree is bare. It isn't about that anyway... It's about the true Heart of Christmas that really matters... Your children will thank you for it.