Christmas

well, for starters i'd like to say, i hope everyone had a fabulous, safe, and just plain wonderful Christmas. and now, i'd like to address an issue i have been thinking about. for Christmas i asked for one, simple practical present, did i get this present? yes, i did...but what else did i get? everything. i asked for a spice rack, i knew i was getting it, its very nice and i love it. but then on top of that my parents got me a digital camera, and an mp3 player, also soo many things like a blow dryer, and straightner, a game, clothes, candy, chocolate and other things. my brother got me a dvd player and a camera dock, my other brother got me pjs-2 sets, and the passion of the Christ dvd, amanda got me a sweet box of candles...big nice ones and makeup, mandy got me a rather expencive seeming scarf and mitts from garage, i got a necklace, towels, fuzzy socks, a massager, and other things from other friends and family...and im thinking...do i need all this stuff? dont get me wrong, im gratefull, i cant believe people spent this much on me. i love everything i GOT for Christmas, but do i need it all? even the spice rack i wanted so badly...did i really NEED it? every year its the same thing, people ask other people " what did you GET for Christmas?" is it all about the getting? should it even be about the giving? i have a friend who has spent all their money, and maxed out their cards and still felt they should have bought more...MORE. what is all this about? so, is all the giving a representation of what God gave us? He gave us a Saviour...so we give presents? if this is true..i guess i can understand, but God gave us what we needed and Christmas has become about giving what we think the person might WANT... i love Christmas, i think its fun, but how much is too much? do people really expect us to go deeply into debt to get them that new game system, the extra clothes, and the chocolates? Christmas is fun, and i like all the things all these wonderful people gave me, and i hope they like what i gave them too. i know nothing will change next year, people will still spend, people will still get what they WANT, but maybe we can think about the amazing gift God gave us, the gift thats worth so much more than a playstation or an mp3 player or even a new lap top, Jesus. the greatest gift of all folks...the only one we really NEED, and no one can top it, not even with their credit cards. thank you LORD, my salvation, my all in all, my favorite gift.