Christmas Rules

Hey, I didn't say what Christmas!

I've had a year to think about rules for Christmas. I thought last year I had a good list, probably based on the wonderful memories I have as a kid growing up in a close family with two rock-solid parents and food on the table with all I needed to eat three times a day with after-school snacks. My list would have had cookies and decorations and real pine trees and bright packages and Daddy's big socks hung on the sofa arms and everyone gathered round with candles and the Christmas story on Christmas Eve. People change perspectives in a year sometimes. People should change sometimes. Sometimes peoples' rule lists must change.

Today I learned a little about a couple of middle school kids in a town that puts on a commercial face of being a wealthy, thriving, Christian community. These kids almost nobody knows about. They qualify for free breakfast and lunches at school. They go home from school and there is nothing to eat. There is no food in the house; they have no supper. They go to bed hungry. Mom is a single parent and her boyfriend isn't working right now. It's a terrible struggle to hang onto a place to live. This is America. This is the most powerful and prosperous nation on earth, in history . . . or was.

How can I hear of this and not do something? How can I plan and shop and sacrifice my money to buy gifts for my loved ones without first doing what I can for someone I know is in desperate need; who lacks the very basics, the necessities of life? I've done it before. This year I can't. Thanks be to God I have something to give and the ability to choose to sacrifice for someone in need. I said sacrifice; something more; something that costs me; not left-overs and surplus after I've done all my heart desires for myself. Can I trade a little want with someone smothering or dying in want.

Last year one local church that serves a Thanksgiving meal to those less fortunate had 60 people come in to eat. This year it was 120! Americans are in trouble.

James 4:17 says, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

So my first rule for Christmas is:

Give. Give sacrificially to someone who is in serious need. Do it first. Give it BEFORE you pick out that extra special something you that shows how much you value your loved one. Instead of trying to impress someone with how ingenious and thoughtful your gift selection talents are, take a risk. Sacrifice a portion of your budget and give to someone who has nothing to give back. In doing so they may never know who you are or where the gift came from. But God knows. Christmas is a celebration of His gift to us of salvation when we are in desperate need and have nothing to give Him but our need. Let Christmas be a mimicking of a little of what Jesus did for us.

I'll change again by next Christmas and my rule list may be different again. Let's hope I don't stray too far from #1 on this year's rules. Let me see. What should be Rule #2? Give God the praise maybe? Hmmm, not bad. But is that #1 or #2? I wonder what would happen to me if I unfailingly could do that for a year.

Coming Soon: Wiley Christmas Rules

Rules for Christmas are coming soon. There's no big rush because you can't start Christmas until Thanksgiving is at least far enough past for turkey ala king to be edible but not enjoyed.

Any answer will do.

Please answer the following:
-
____________________________________________?
-
Perplexing, right? Don't feel stupid. That was only a theoretical question.