Time to stop Christmas presents? Poll Discussion

Fleur_De_Lis

I usually give to immediate family and close friends. The budget is tighter than ever this year. I think we should go back to the time when a gift was something made not bought. A knitted jumper, some indulgent food or maybe a candle. That is what I have decided to do this year, small gifts and home made treats. With so many very simple recipies out there and all the places to learn how to make new things, we have no excuse. Maybe not so good for the kids, society has made them ungrateful and I doubt they would appreciate a home made scented candle as much as your mum would.

For me, Christmas and Yule are is the best time of year. Just being with my family and sharing the festive cheer is enough. Batteries not included.

Fleur_De_Lis

adrian_clark wrote: »

:beer: When you know the awesome news that God really did come into human history as a hard working blue collar worker, lived a sinless life despite being tempted as we are, was betrayed, tortured and murdered and then, just to show that he was who he claimed to be, conquered death coming back in person to speak with hundreds of witnesses, you kinda wanna share that news. The clues on the tin "Christ"mas. Though we don't deserve it we really are loved beyond all measure, that's good news:eek:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

It depends what you believe, everyone is entitled to believe what they want. To be honest, how many kids in general know christmas as a 'christan' thing and not Santa bringing gifts for good girls and boys?

I don't want to get all 'learn your history' but depending on your faith, it was christ born on December 25th, not god. If you want to get even more technical, he was actually born somewhere in the middle of the year and took over December to make Pagans transfer to Christianity easier as Yule is December 21st.

udydudy

Voted E, though by religion I am not a christian(hindu by birth but believe only in humanity as a religion!!) I believe Christmas has always been a time for giving so give(or gift) what you can afford. its not about giving a bigger gift than what you get but "Just about giving" and watching the smile on the other persons face!

So go on make other happy.....Merry Christmas Everyone.......

*Louise*

Our family tend to buy for the children. Except mums, so at Xmas I will get a gift from OH, the kids, my parents and the inlaws.

I love giving presents though, and although I try to limit to just family (option C) I end up buying for a couple of friends, school teachers, nursery teachers etc because I feel I should:o

Doesn't bother me thoguh really, I have got loads of bargains and if money got really tight I know there are people I could cut back on.

I love Christmas - it wouldn't be the same without gifts :j

charlie792

I will only buy for close family - parents, sister, granddad and my OH + a little present for his parents and his nan (normally just a box of chocs) this year Ive managed to get some real bargains for Christmas thanks to MSE, got majority of my sisters presents for free (ASOS £10 off code), free DVD from Shop.to.net, bought a present each for everyone from BHS (Spectacular saving + 2 x £5 Off £25 Spend), Big box of chocs (Amazon Black Friday), So far Christmas has cost me very little

Stephen_Leak

I have a bit of a problem this Christmas.

My current lady friend's birthday is 30 December. We met at a Christmas party last year on 27 December. And, obviously, Christmas is 25 December.

Only kidding. She's worth a "Christmassy" present, a romantic one for the anniversary and a general-purpose birthday one.

adrian_clark

Fleur_De_Lis wrote: »

It depends what you believe, everyone is entitled to believe what they want. To be honest, how many kids in general know christmas as a 'christan' thing and not Santa bringing gifts for good girls and boys?

I don't want to get all 'learn your history' but depending on your faith, it was christ born on December 25th, not god. If you want to get even more technical, he was actually born somewhere in the middle of the year and took over December to make Pagans transfer to Christianity easier as Yule is December 21st.

You are right, we are all gifted free will to believe what we choose but I would encourage anyone to believe the Truth. It's a great question and to be honest I don't know how many kids know about the Christian life. However, if they are to make a choice they need to know that human history revolves around the man Jesus Christ, who was betrayed, tortured and murdered because he loves them. That after his resurrection 100s of people testified to seeing him speak and he met and had breakfast with friends. In a world where we are bombarded with competing truth claims, counter philosophies and religions claiming many different false gods it's loving to give our kids the information they need to uncover the liberating, encouraging and hope filled Truth that history and the Bible reports about Jesus. That really would be a great Christmas present to discover that they are loved beyond all measure by their eternal Father.

meher

Martin’s Time to Ban Presents? six-point moneyfesto

that's a clever word :snow_grin

adrian_clark

meher wrote: »

that's a clever word :snow_grin

William Blake misses the essential point that Jesus was love.

meher

Adrian, I've clarified it here.

looks like my signature about Jesus :heart2: needs a thread on it's own :snow_grin