The laden stores display their wares
The windows wink and smile
Luring, cajoling, enticing.
Want, Want, Want.
Television commercials swirl
Prices slashed
Best deals here
Better deals there.
We are the yo-yo.
Want eclipses need.
The mailbox explodes
With red and green flashes
Screaming for attention–
Catalogues, flyers, coupons, ads.
Buy, Buy, Buy.
The list is long
Pleasing is paramount
Budgets blown.
The usually restrained twins,
Crave and Excess
Raise their ugly heads.
The tree is cut
Or more likely–
Dragged down from the attic.
Glitter, baubles and bows
Dress it’s naked elegance.
Shopping complete–
Soon to be forgotten presents
Painstakingly wrapped.
Gaily lining the green boughs,
A carpet of shimmer and shine.
Another commercial success.
Hundreds, even thousands spent.
Yet the homeless man still stands on the corner
Stomach rumbling
Hands freezing
Shoes leaking.
And where’s the nativity?
Still in the attic in a dust covered box?
Forgotten with the cast-off chairs,
Moving boxes with unknown contents,
And old baby clothes.
Or displayed, but still disregarded in light of the new.
We become blinded by the shiny
Hypnotized by the bright
And infatuated by the latest.
Don’t we remember?
Every year the desirable breaks
The bright will tarnish and dull
And the latest will become outdated in lightening speed
Paving the way to purchase more.
Only Jesus never fades.
He’s always there for us
Day in
Day out
Even when we forget him.
The merry-go-round of want
Never stops
We have to choose to jump off
And be thankful for a blessed life in Him.
**********
Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. Proverbs 23:5
-Do you tend to go overboard at Christmas? How much do you spend compared to how much you give?
-Giving can be much more than monetary—make plans to volunteer with your family at your local food pantry, the homeless shelter, a church dinner for the needy etc…