Preface: As a believer in Christ and one who celebrates a traditional American Christmas, this commentary is for readers who also celebrate the traditional American Christmas. My comments may not resonate with you other wise, and you may even find yourself disagreeing with me on certain points. This is what I believe, and would like to share.

Now is the season where parents boisterously talk about what they will be getting for their children for Christmas: “I’m getting little Joe a Play Station”, “I’m getting little Mark a Nintendo DSI”, “I’m getting little Susy her own iPhone”. As parents, we all have a desire to give our children everything they want. Often times there is no feeling more belittling than that feeling that you can’t compete with other parents, and give your children the most expensive gadget because you don’t have the money. Some parents will go into debt (or increase their debt) just to give their kids that toy that will make them the envy of the school. And when we are in that capable financial position, we tend to throw out basic concepts of moderation and frugality that teach our children that buying the latest and greatest really isn’t necessary and isn’t what Christmas is about anyway.

There is an important thing to remember: your children will love you no matter what you give them. Seriously, there is no need to feel pressured by the constant barrage of holiday adverts that tug at your guilt strings, and infuse that desire to give your child what ever they ask for Christmas.  Because if they truly understand the meaning of the celebration, they might just check them self, and have reasonable expectations for what they might receive.

Nativity Scene - Used With Permission freefoto.com

I understand consumerism is what drives the economy (especially when buying Made in the USA), but I wonder what our motions and actions of buy & spend at will are teaching our children this time of year when we should be teaching them the reason for the season. We as parents, need to be setting the examples that were set by our parents and grand parents before us. We should be teaching our children that while it is fun to give and receive, Christmas is not supposed to be a consumer holiday. It is supposed to be a celebration of the birth of Jesus. If you consider yourself to be a Christian, but allow the focus of Christmas to be about the gift exchange and the parties instead of teaching who Jesus is, then you are simply contributing to the consumerism of Christmas. I ask you, how much time do you give to present exchanges and Christmas parties? Now, how much time do you give to telling the story of the birth of Jesus to your children during this special season? Have you taken Christ out of your Christmas?

About Charlie

Charlie Profit has been happily married since 1997 and is father to four wonderful children. He has Faith in Christ, is a Conservative Libertarian, and believes in limited government with free markets. He is a Talk Host, Podcaster and Blogger at www.charlieprofit.com. Charlie is a veteran broadcaster and owns his own broadcast and new media services company CAB Radio, coaching Internet Talk Hosts, podcasters and helping companies with their Social Media presence.

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