It was the week before Christmas, and my dad and I had run out to the grocery store for a few things. As we waited in the checkout line we watched the older man in front of us carefully counting the bills in his hand. The clerk had given the total amount for the few groceries that were on the counter, and he was coming up short. He decided to return a package of meat so that he could pay for what was left.
Moved by the sight, my dad handed him a $20 bill and wished him a Merry Christmas. With surprise and gratitude, the man thanked my dad and was able to pay the full bill for his groceries. When he left, my dad remarked with a catch in his voice, "He couldn't even afford meat for his family." In that moment, the consumeristic frenzy of the American season shrunk into insignificance for both of us.
Around this time of year we could all use a little perspective on what's really important. Advertisers convince us that the latest, newest, trendiest, and most efficient Fill-In-The-Blank will provide us with security and happiness. While teenagers certainly get caught up in the "I want" syndrome, parents do, too. The result is a spirit of discontentment and a materialistic worldview that can permeate the home, especially around Christmastime. And yet, the God who created the universe was content to enter the world in a smelly barn. No bells and whistles. No complaints or apologies. No demands.
So how does this picture of the real Christmas translate into everyday family life? Here are a few ways you can maintain a counter-cultural spirit of worship during this hectic season.
Set a tone of contentment in your home
Sing the sacred Christmas carols. If you really listen to the words, the sacred carols can remind you and your teens of great spiritual truths. Even if you don't have musical ability or an instrument at home, it's easy enough to pop in a CD in the car. Better yet, get a couple of families together and carol at a nursing home, homeless shelter, or even in your neighborhood. It's the only time of year when singing songs about Jesus in public is socially acceptable!
Set a family routine that is focused on Christ. Commit to attending worship services regularly, and consider setting aside Sunday as a shopping-free day. You can also try reading a daily or weekly advent devotional together as a family. You can find weekly Advent devotional readings online or at your local bookstore.
Cut costs.
The average American spends more than $700 per year on Christmas gifts alone, and every year families go deep into debt. One way to cut costs is to draw names, so that each person only buys for one other person in the family. Set a dollar limit, either per person or for the whole family. One radical idea is to have a "Dollar Store" Christmas, where everything costs - you guessed it - a dollar or less. Focus on experiences-not things. Check out the event calendar in your local newspaper-many Christmas festivals and concerts are free. Make a plan to go together as a family and make some memories that you'll hold onto for years to come.
Limit media.
The advertisements can be overwhelming. Limiting TV during the holiday season can cut out some of the temptation that you and your teens would normally face. Designate a "screen-free" night once a week and use the time to play board games together.
Lower your expectations.
Rather than focusing on what isn't perfect about the holidays, embrace the good moments and hold onto them.
Practice generosity
Rub shoulders with the poor. Caring for the poor is something Christ has commanded us all to do: "If anyone has this world's goods and sees his brother in need but closes his eyes to his need-how can God's love reside in him? Little children, we must not love with word or speech, but with truth and action." (1 John 3:17-18). Consider serving a meal at a local homeless shelter or volunteering with children of imprisoned parents. Make a meal together and take it to an elderly neighbor, or simply keep your eyes open for an opportunity to help someone in need.
Have a closet clean-out.
Winter can be a tough time for those who are struggling financially. Take a Saturday to weed out outdated sweaters or coats and donate them to a shelter. Sometimes dry cleaning businesses accept donations around this time of year.
Ask your teen for input on how to give as a family.
Teens love to give input on decisions, so ask them how they would like to give. Consider filling a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child or donating as a family to a favorite local ministry organization. A great online resource is charitynavigator.org, which describes hundreds of charities that are screened for financial accountability.
Model giving in your everyday life.
Seeing you give will make the greatest impression on your teen. While you don't have to have a lot of money or make a spectacle of your giving, your teen will notice if you regularly practice generosity and will be inspired to do the same.
If your teen seems materialistic these days, are you really surprised? We all are, and it's no wonder. We live in an affluent society that thrives on the currency of dissatisfaction. But God's Word teaches something else entirely: "Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you'" (Heb. 13:5).
Isn't that the Christmas promise? God with us? As a parent, you have the opportunity to offer your teen something much greater than the world ever could: a heart that rests in the Savior who came to earth. In the end, that's more than enough.
This article is courtesy of Parenting Teens Magazine.