How many of you remember the gifts you got last year? Maybe the big ones, if you got a new iPad or something you’ve used everyday since – like a fitness band or new shoes. Otherwise, you might not remember who gave you which scarf or which pair of earrings. You may see something in your closet and remember you got it for Christmas, but which Christmas?? That’s another story, right? And don’t get me started on what we got other people for Christmas. Unless it was a scrapbook or something that took a whole lot of time, we likely don’t remember who got what or if we actually bought it for them or only thought about it. And let’s be honest, the gifts we did buy them probably ended up in a yard sale or a donate box.

Christmas is exhausting.

But what if we did Christmas differently? What if we did Christmas in a Christian way. You know…in a set apart, sanctified, different than the world kind of way.

Usually, we only harp on the fact that we don’t celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday because Jesus wasn’t born on Christmas morning. We shout it from the rooftops and quit talking about Jesus for an entire month lest anyone think we associate with nativities! And sure, I completely agree that Jesus wasn’t born on December 25^th and I don’t think we have scriptural authorization to celebrate the day as if He did; however, I don’t think that’s the only way our Christmas should be different from other people’s Christmases. We shouldn’t ever be different in a rude or stuck up way. That’s pretty much the opposite of how we should be.

Instead, what if we, as Christ’s people, were different in a great way? What if we were a people known for being exceptionally generous and thoughtful. A people who bless other people in rich, lasting ways. A people who give to the poor and needy, but also to the widow and the young family. A people who babysit for exhausted moms. A people who buy groceries for a family struggling with medical bills. A people who set up adoption auctions for Christian couples. A people who spent months planning how they could enrich the lives of those around us instead of planning how many people we’d maul on Black Friday.

Let’s all agree to start being people who do Christmas differently. It’s December 5^th, so you’ve got plenty of time to set your focus on being different. Think of a way to bless someone in your church family. Think of a way to bless your physical family – maybe by tackling hard things like submission and peacemaking. Think of ways to bless the grumpy people who have waited last minute to shop and are now exhausted and irritable. Don’t be a passive Christmas-er and just let the holidays happen to you. Be intentionally thoughtful. Intentionally blessing. Intentionally Christ-like.

We are smack dab in the middle of a season where people’s hearts are a little softer. Let’s use the softness to shine light and be blessings. Not only with material things, but with time and love and hope. Especially hope.