Reason for the Season

So I just got done listening to my church online (love that they have it live online btw) and it really tied together what I have been thinking about the last couple of days. 

Since it is Christmas time there seem to be more toy commercials and sales and Avery says she wants EVERYTHING she sees on TV or in the store.  And as her mother, I of course want to give her all of it and more.  :)  One of my teachers I had in high school told me she only gave her daughter 3 presents at Christmas time because that is all Jesus received.  Brian and I agreed to do that, but I have yet to follow through.  I just want everything for her, and Max for that matter too, but he is 3 months and won't get excited about all the teethers and toys coming his way.  lol.  And then I started thinking it's not just at Christmas time but the whole year round and then I went to thinking about how I hate how when she misbehaves she doesn't receive the toy or do the fun stuff we have planned for her.  It makes me wish she could see how she would have really loved what she was going to get or get to do and just behave. 

Then I thought of God and how much more he loves us than I love my own children and how much he wants to give to us but when we are not following after him or acknowledge him we miss out on so much.  I mean he made the ultimate sacrifice for us.  I was listening to Pastor Jim from my church and he made a point that we are the reason for the season in part.  Think about it: What we needed most was to be forgiven and because God loved us so much he sent us a savior in Jesus who was born on Christmas day!  No, I am not trying to say we should be all boastful that the season is about us or deny that if Jesus hadn't come down we still would not have a reason for the season.  What I am saying is because we are such a mess and so sinful we should be humbled and thankful that God chose to sacrifice and send his son to us. What a miracle we have in Jesus!!  And just like when Avery misbehaves or doesn't listen she misses out, we also miss out if we don't acknowledge that Jesus is the Savior and the ultimate reason for the season.  Not buying the latest toys, books, gadgets, or whatever, but the fact that He was born!!!! And as much as I hate when Avery misses out I can only imagine how much it saddens God if we don't open the best and only gift we really ever need.  Pastor Jim said a wonderful gift is a worthless gift if not opened.  So as much as I want to keep buying for the kids, I am done!  I know the amounts spent and numbers unequal, but I am done.  I want to spend the next almost 2 weeks making sure I talk, read, or sing about Jesus' birth and why it is so important.  I don't want the most wonderful gift in the world to go unused like all the toys I just bought for the kids will soon be.