Thanks Liz, I have updated them now. 🙂

We do presents but in no way go overboard.

My personal challenge is buying presents for extended family. We have a small budget and I find it stressful to buy them each a present that fits into our $10 pp budget… I’m constantly rethinking how to do this but I know that no matter what I do most of my side of the family will buy anyway.

Th Hebrew iron sharpening iron discussions should be practiced more in the Christian community–disagreeing and remaining friends.

Thank you

A few years ago, they have a big family get together and exchange presents. We attend. We have family fun. We don’t give presents, much to the disgust of some family members. However, this has also meant that our children don’t receive as elaborate a gift as the other children. So be it! That’s fine with us anyway. If we were to give gifts, it would be because it is in our hearts to do so- not because of the 25th December. My family doesn’t ask what they can get the children. If they can’t think of something, they’ll just give them some money in a card. I would be perfectly happy not to have them receive anything but this would be very offensive to my family. (Think: Italian family) It is offensive enough that we don’t give gifts and do the whole Christmas thing…to deny them the opportunity to give to our children would be insulting to them, not to us but to them. So again, we try to discern the who, and why we do what we do. Is it a matter of law? What is it exactly we are trying to impart to the children? Why are we not celebrating Christmas? If it is because it goes against God’s commands and we would be sinning, then that will dictate our actions. If it is because we do not recognise the day or esteem that day as higher than other’s then that too will dictate how we act and behave.

Our society says that we get recognised public holidays so it is a good time to get together with family. I think it would be silly of ‘us’ (I really mean us, as in the personal sense) to deliberately avoid these get togethers as it is the only opportunity for us to see everyone. It is the time of year when everyone attends, so we do try to as well. To us, it is a time where our family can get together- like at weddings or funerals.

Actually, it’s quite strange. We are the only Christians (believers/followers of Jesus) in our family. We’re also the only ones who don’t do Christmas. Tehee, family can’t quite figure us out! 😉

Blessings,
Susan <><

My dh’s family don’t celebrate Christmas. Well, his parents and brother’s families don’t. His sisters now do as they have married into other families. Those who don’t go into everything, still have lunch together.

I think it’s important to still spend time with family (if they are around) on either Dec 25 or 26. They need to know that it’s not about them but about the reasons you have given for not celebrating. My family don’t understand our position but they respect it and there’s no animosity as we have tried to make it a time for family when we can.