by Cathy Ballantine
I’m a bit of a Grinch when it comes to Christmas.
I can’t be bothered decorating the house (teenage daughters do that). The sooner they pull it all down, the better.
I can’t stand Christmas Carols (except for one – more on that next time).
I hate buying presents for the kids now they are mostly grown up, because I don’t know what to buy them, they don’t really need anything and I’m just buying stuff because its expected. I also hate going to the shopping centres trying to find stuff around Christmas. Online shopping is my friend.
I think driving around looking at Christmas Lights is boring.
I don’t even like going to church on Christmas Day.
Do you still want to be my friend?
When you get down to it, what is the point of all the things we do for Christmas?
18 years ago, I was staying at mum’s with 3 young children while my husband and his mate were sanding and polishing the floors at our house. He was also on night shift, so it was a bit hectic. It was the week before Christmas and we hadn’t even put up the Christmas tree at Mum’s. We just didn’t feel ‘into’ it. A phone call from my Aunt in Rockhampton changed everything, as my Gran had fallen and broken her hip. We decided to pack up and go to Rocky for Christmas instead.
On Christmas Day, we went to Church. It was hot, humid and sticky and I was sitting in the hot foyer with my 7month old. I was grumpy and wished the service would hurry up and finish so we could get home and open presents. It struck me, just like a lightning bolt, that I had the wrong attitude! I shouldn’t be wanting to get church out of the way so I could go and party. Church shouldn’t be a token offering, that you present yourself to Jesus to say Happy Birthday and then selfishly go and eat, drink and be merry without giving Him another thought. Why did I not want to stay in church all day, celebrating Jesus’ birth? Air conditioning would have helped make it more appealing, for sure, but our attention is often focussed on other things – cooking food, being ready for people to come, presents and fun.
As Christmases passed each year, I started to get frustrated at comments like “we will just have a short service on Christmas day so you can… fill in the blank”. It seemed to me like it was a token nod to God to say thanks for the gift of your Son, but I’m going to go now and see what I got for Christmas, eat, drink and be merry. As I looked at all the stuff that happens in the shops and all the people buying presents, I’d wonder why? Why are all these people doing Christmas when they don’t acknowledge Jesus? Why am I doing this?
Several years ago, my husband and I decided that we would do our own thing with the family. We now have a time of family sharing, sharing a bible verse that reflects Christmas or something that happened during the year. It’s quite special to reflect and pray together around the Christmas Tree.
Christmas became about people. I love having my house full of people over Christmas. You don’t have any family to celebrate Christmas with? Come and be part of mine! Our house is practically an open house of people coming and going every day between Christmas and New Year. It's a wonderful chance to fill in the gap for people who don't have a chance to be with their families or to just hang out and fellowship with friends.
For presents, I try to do a “family” present, something for all of us to enjoy together. One year, we went to NZ for a family reunion in February, so the present was the trip and the activities we did there. Another time we bought a pool table. A couple of times, we’ve bought a collection of board games. If you know my family, you’ll know how much we love board and card games.
I’ve managed to redefine Christmas: from a day where I was tied up in the hype and commercialism to new traditions that are meaningful to me and my family. I don't need the rest of the trimmings to make Christmas. I'm excited about the house full of people, my family being together and the chance to remember Jesus' birth and the impact it has on the world today.
Cathy Ballantine has been a part of the Qld Baptist Women's Team since 2010. She works part time as State Administrator and Uniform Shop Manager for The Boys’ Brigade Qld and has a home based Admin business. Cathy is married to Matt and they have 4 children - Declan, Brenna, Jacob and Megan. They have been a part of Salisbury Baptist Church since 1999.
If you’d like to receive the monthly QBW Prayer Network email, click here.
Click here to join the Qld Baptist Women in Leadership Facebook Page. Don’t forget to answer the questions to get in the door.
Click here to follow our QBW/Anew Conference Facebook Page.
Click here to follow us on Instagram.
Don’t forget to follow our Blog!
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel