more does not equal more

Many lessons were learned this year at Christmas but the most prominent was "more does not equal more".  I am sure some of you may have experienced this.  I mean as a parent, I want to give my kids everything. And that especially holds true at Christmas.  The thing is, there will always be one more thing I want to buy them.  So I have to ask myself...

When have I done enough? 

When do I stop?  

This might seem like such a simple decision.  But for me it does not seem simple at all.  I know that this is a heart issue...my heart issue.  I have to break myself from the wanting.

I feel as though I need to reprogram what Christmas is all about.  This will definitely be my plan for next year.

Don't get me wrong though.  We had a wonderful Christmas this year.  I just think there will be some things I will tweak for next year.

•  I will prepare my heart to be more Jesus centered and not present centered.   
• We will give more to others as a family.
• I will take some advice from several friends and pair down our personal gifts to a want, a need, a wear, and a read.  Thanks to several of you who are encouraging me to do this. 
• We will not go into debt for Christmas.  (Thanks Amy! Your family is an inspiration)

This year I learned that we can only find fulfillment in Christ alone.  No amount of presents can fulfill us.

presents

=

happiness

This is a really hard lesson for me, as my love language is gifts.  But we should all realize that true contentment is found only in Jesus.  This is what I want my kids to know more than anything.  But it is also something I must learn for myself before I can teach it to them.  

Presents are fun and great and they do make us temporarily happy.  But the true contentment we find in Jesus lasts forever.  It is soul satisfying and can be found nowhere else but in Him. 

Dear Lord,

We ask for more of  you in the year 2013.  Help us want more of you and not more of the world. Thank you for fulfilling us.

Amen