The Gimmes, The Grinch, and The Greatest Gift

Sally Ferguson is a caring encourager. She wants women to grow in the Word and in their responses to Father God. In this Christmas UPGRADE, Sally notes some of the wrong attitudes during the holiday season about "getting," and encourages ways to give instead.

"In a culture of shopping malls and letters to Santa, it’s a struggle to unwrap the real meaning of Christmas," Sally says. "Even Cindy Lou Who told the Grinch things had gotten out of hand in Whoville. 'Everybody seems too kerbabbled. Isn't this just a little superfluous?'"

I (Dawn) had to laugh when I read that. Sometimes I think our culture is more Whoville-ish than we admit. But Sally takes us beyond that tale to a story that is grand and a blessing!

Sally continues . . .

What are the gimmes?

That’s when we’re compelled to have it all—“Give me this, get me that. I need more!”

I see ads geared toward the younger audience and think, "It’s no wonder we’re in a hurry to buy the latest, greatest doohickey and whatchamacallit. We’re in a race to get the best so we can be the favorite grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, (insert your status here)."

If it’s a competition, is there any joy in the giving?

How do we help children navigate the gimmes at Christmas, if the adults are competing with each other for their affections?

In search of answers, I called my friend Sandy Meerdink to get her input. Sandy and Jon have three daughters, ages seven, eight, and ten.

When I asked if they deal with the gimmes, she chuckled and said,

“We always have. When they get one thing, it leads to wanting another.

"It’s a lifelong process of teaching my girls they don’t all need to have the same thing. If one has a toy, they can share and multiply their supply.”

Sandy continued,

“I try to talk to them about others who don’t have what they have. The girls notice kids around them at school, and we talk about how they would feel if they didn’t have the things they do.

"I tell them stories about children I saw on a mission trip to Nicaragua. There were children who were glad to have boots that didn’t even fit, and kids who lived in a cardboard box, yet were happy.

"When my girls want something, I ask, ‘Is it a need or a want?’”

“Maybe Christmas (he thought) doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.” — The Grinch

What does Sandy do to promote giving instead of getting?

1. When shopping, encourage each child to watch what others admire.

These make great gift ideas and nurture observation skills.

2. When they see a need, conduct secret projects to surprise that person—such as what happened when a new girl came to class and needed cheering up because her mom was sick with cancer.

3. When making a Christmas wish list for Grandma, think of an activity to enjoy together—turning the gift into an experience and a memory to cherish.

4. When celebrating with extended family, let children help pick a family gift that will focus on fun—like a pass to a nearby zoo or new sleds to go sledding too.

A few years back, Sandy was dismayed by the gimmes popping up in her home and cried out to the Lord for a way to reach her gals. The result was a Christmas angel, Gloria, represented by a doll.

• Gloria’s purpose is to bring glory to God and to teach the joy in giving.
• Gloria shows how to look out for others and do special things for them, and then find joy in watching that person’s reaction.
• Through daily activities during the Christmas season, a Bible verse, encouraging notes, a challenge and an occasional gift, Gloria prepares hearts for Advent.

How can you advocate giving instead of getting?

• Handmade gifts are ones that will be cherished. Find ideas from Lana Wynn Scroggins here.
• Shop together for Shoebox gifts. Sandy asks her girls to pick out gifts for a specific age so that they will picture that child in their minds.
• Deliver cookies together. My family sings Christmas carols as we deliver to neighbors on Christmas Eve. It makes people smile (because of the tunes or because of the festivity, I’ll never tell)!

“You can’t hurt Christmas, Mr. Mayor because it isn’t about the gifts or the contests or the fancy lights.” — Lou Lou Who

What is the real meaning of giving at Christmas?

Consider the impact of gifts.

When the Israelites triumphed over Haman’s plan of extinction of their people, they celebrated with presents to each other. Their joy was represented in the gift (Esther 9:18-22).

When the Magi found the Babe in the manger, their joy overflowed in the sharing of their treasures. (Matthew 2:10-11)

Maybe our best gifts are the awe we bring when we worship the King? (Psalm 72:10-11)

Let's join Cindy Lou Who in search of real meaning this Christmas. As we return to our Bibles, we will unwrap the most remarkable present of all—the presence of Jesus!

How will you help children navigate the gimmes at Christmas, and instead, point to the greatest Gift?

Sally Ferguson loves to dive into God’s Word and splash his refreshing water onto others. She speaks and writes with a look at snapshots of life in the sunshine and in the storms. Sally plans women’s retreats and she’s working on a Bible study for caregivers. She lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, New York, with her husband and her dad. Sally’s coloring book, What Will I Be When I Grow Up? is available here, or contact Sally on her website for a copy.

Graphic of Christmas Gifts adapted, courtesy of Pexels at Pixabay."

Goals to Redeem Regret in 2020

When I think of pure lovers of the Word of God, the name Cathy Horning always comes to my mind. She approaches the scriptures with an honest heart, and then vulnerably shares what God is teaching her. In this New Year's UPGRADE, Cathy looks back over the year and talks about a word no one likes: "REGRET."

"As 2019 comes to a close, I have a great regret," she says. "Yet as we welcome 2020, it is a regret I intend to redeem.

"My regret is a latent skill which has gnawed at my heart for decades, one I have ignored, neglected, and excused away the older I have grown."

I (Dawn) so identify with this. I have some regrets too. Some, I can't do anything to change now, but Cathy has inspired me to redeem the ones I can.

Cathy continues . . .

This regret surfaced only two weeks ago, after I traveled across the border into Mexico to share my testimony with a precious group of women who are stepping out of poverty and brokenness.

Thankfully, I was blessed with a wonderful interpreter. The Lord was very present, and at work to speak hope and encouragement for their futures. 

When I returned home, however, I was convicted that I had neglected to attend to the beautiful Spanish language which I studied in high school and college. You see, for the past forty years, I rationalized that I did not need this skill in my everyday life.

Memories came of how Señor Reyes, my high school Spanish teacher, instilled in me a love and a passion for his native language—as well as what a stickler he was for proper pronunciation.

Living in Arizona, it only made sense to continue learning this second language in college. Sadly though, once I married and had children, I rarely gave it a another thought.

Over the years, I mostly ignored the gnawing within me to refresh and invest in Spanish. Occasionally, I would listen to a Spanish Bible on CD or a pick up a workbook, always with the best intentions. But, because of a full and busy life, it never lasted.

Eventually, my Spanish was laid aside once again.

I justified, when would I ever use my rusty, latent skill anyway?

I never imagined, at the ripe age of 60, I would be invited to cross the border from my California home and speak to a beautiful group of women who primarily spoke Spanish.

But, GOD KNEW!

And, although I was provided an excellent interpreter to help share my message, I was unable to talk personally to the women, and their precious children. I knew the basics, and although a few were bilingual, I regretted I had not maintained and invested in my Spanish, so that I could speak and listen to each one of them.

The conviction of my neglected skill, and the assurance that I will be invited back to Mexico, has inspired this grandma to dust off and work on relearning her valuable Spanish speaking skills.

I realize I may never be accomplished enough to speak a whole message without the aid of an interpreter, but as I step into the new year, I plan to redeem the regret I have, simply because I did not continue to invest in and keep sharp my Spanish language skills.

FIRST, I intend to follow the example of my mentor and role model, my daughter, who faithfully and diligently continues to practice her skill of the French language every day. Only, I will practice Spanish.

SECOND, I will use the same phone app she uses, an alarm set and all, which helps her to keep on track and be accountable to practice daily.

THIRD, I will follow my daughter’s discipline to read and listen to books and music in the Spanish language that I now know I need to re-learn.

FINALLY, like my daughter, I will keep this skill fresh and as sharp as I am able, for circumstances in the present, as well as for opportunities in the future.

Paul and Peter each admonish us in their letters:

"Do not neglect the gift that is in you..." (I Timothy 4:14 NKJV).

"Each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 4:10 NKJV)

Dear reader, as we enter a new year and a new decade, is there a stirring in your heart to learn or invest in a latent talent or skill? Perhaps, music, art, a language, a craft, hobby or other skill or interest? Is there a longing that lingers, one that never really goes away?

Could it be God’s whisper for eternal and kingdom purposes which He has created you for?

Cathy Horning has been a women’s ministry leader, Bible Study teacher, speaker and writer for almost three decades. She loves the Word of God. Nothing brings her greater joy than encouraging women how to walk in God's ways. Cathy is a popular speaker, blogger and writer, as well as a beloved wife to her husband of 37 years, mom to four, grammy to 13, and spiritual mom to many. She is the author of Letters from a Mother's Heart—Timeless Truths from One Mom's Journey. Read more here at her website.

Graphic adapted. Feather duster from Feather Duster Depot.

Fear... or Coffee

The super-talented Joy Elben has always struck me as confident and capable. But I've learned we all have struggles, and in this Gifts and Spiritual Growth UPGRADE, Joy shares how she moved from fears and feelings of inadequacy to using her gifts with confidence in the Lord.

“I would never have told you I was afraid,” Joy says. “In fact, I would have told you the opposite.”

I (Dawn) sense a kindred spirit here. Years ago, I could have written this same post. I'm glad Joy did. So many people hide behind their fears; and Joy encourages us to come out of hiding!

Joy continues . . .

I would have said that I'm bold. I’m adventurous. I pursue my dreams.  

When the reality was, there was a part of me lying dormant.

I hadn't actually forgotten that part; it just wasn't necessary anymore. 

Or was it? 

You see, growing up, I was the girl who was always writing. 

All over.

Everything. 

• My Lisa Frank trapper keeper. 
• My lunch box.
• My brother's lunch box.
• My brother.

The girl who, when the teacher would ask you to put your name in the front flap of each book, I put my name right on the front cover.

In big, BOLD letters. Yep, that was me.

My teachers may not have appreciated that. I may have been the inspiration for the modern book cover.

But letters were art and words were powerful, and I liked the look and sound and feel of the script flowing from my pen to my page. 

My high school English teacher was the first to say it:

"Joy, you have a gift! You need to write." 

I did? I should?

OK!

I devoured every book I could. Every genre, prose and process.

Collecting words as if they were treasures. I was going to take over the world and inspire anyone who would listen with all the eloquence and wisdom of my sixteen-year-old self.

My freshman year of college, there was a campus-wide essay contest and I won.

My professor said,

"Joy, you have a gift. You should write." 

I studied and honed my craft and my family repeated the refrain,

"Joy, you have a gift. You should write."

But then life happened. 

And the voices in my head began to tell me:

• "Joy, maybe you can write, but really, what makes you more interesting than anyone else?"
• "Joy, you're only (insert the age). What makes you think that you have any wisdom to offer?"
• "Joy, you are the pastor's WIFE, and sharing from a platform is his job."
• "Joy, you are surrounded by brilliant writers—let them do the writing."
• "Joy, Joy, Joy ....”

The voices chanted my inadequacy.

And I hid.

I hid behind all of the voices and I did it with the conviction that I was honoring God in the process.

Doesn’t Proverbs warn us time and again to weigh our words? I seemed to have forgotten that it also says, 

“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a GOOD WORD makes him glad” (Proverbs 12:25).

Recently, when invited to join a new friend at our local coffee shop, I shared my hesitation and the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and she urged, "Joy, if God has given you a gift, then you need to share your voice and write!"

In the spirit of good conversation, I reciprocated and asked her to share her passion. 

She responded with, "This is my passion."

Wait, what?

"Having coffee."

I was a little baffled. I mean I like a good cup of coffee as much as the next gal, but…huh?

She was a mother and a missionary and a remarkable woman, and her passion was having coffee? 

She explained that for her, sharing coffee meant using her gift of encouragement to create connection and relationship.

Coffee is to her what writing is to me. A mode of connection.

My heart received the message and I knew that I had a choice to make.

I could continue to hide under my own veil of self-doubt and fear of vulnerability,

OR

I could choose to live by faith and write.

So today, I will make the choice to use my words for encouragement and sharing a good word.

What is your passion? Is it writing? Is it coffee? Have you been given a gift that is lying dormant and you hold back because of fear? 

Don’t do it. Don't hide. 

Write, teach, serve, draw, sing—whatever it is for you—and drink coffee, all for the glory of God!

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Take a moment to examine your heart and ask the Lord to reveal if there is any part of you that He has CREATED FOR MORE.

Listen carefully. 

Respond.

Get EXCITED!

The Lord longs to help you live in the fullness of who He created you to be.

What is your gift? How are you using it for God’s glory?

Joy Elben, born and raised in sunny San Diego, is serving alongside her husband at Forest Home Christian Camps and Conference Center, in the picturesque setting of Ojai, California. She is a pastor's wife, adoptive mom, foster parent, enthusiastic traveler and owner of Joy Elben Design, a home staging and design business.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Engin_Akyurt-Pixabay.