Warm Winter Wear

Our little family has been attending a church just down the road from us during our stay in Edmonton. This past weekend the congregation sent off three families on missions work. Two families with young children. Four each to be exact. One going long term, learning a new language, engaging in a new culture, leaving their friends and community behind to start anew. The other planning to spend their Christmas holidays ministering to the children at a residential school in China. Prayer requests were made for language learning, safety, visas....and jackets.

These Chinese children had no jackets, no snow pants, now toques and mitts, no boots to walk home for their weekend visits. Nothing to shield them from the winter elements. To protect them from the biting cold. I thought about this during our afternoon walk today. Jacob at the ripe age of 15 months owns two pairs of boots (previously three until I decided this was ridiculous and gave the third pair away), two pairs of mitts, four toques, one pair of snow pants and two winter jackets (with a third and a fourth waiting for him at home). What plenty! Our baby boy has enough winter gear to outfit at least two of him. Tim and I are also abounding in winter gear. Yet these children have nothing.

I find myself at a crossroads of sorts. In recognition of my abundance of provision for my basic needs I possess gratitude. Yet, in response to cultural pressures and selfish motives I continue to desire more. More fashionable winter wear, newer clothing for the Christmas season, new home decorations, different sweaters, shoes, boots, jewelry....the list goes on.

I receive a daily blog entry from Ann Voskamp....if you haven't figured it out yet, I am a bit of a fan. Last week she sent out a simple question. In light of Christmas being the celebration of Jesus' birth.....what are you planning on getting Jesus for His birthday? This Christmas I have decided that Jesus doesn't need another new outfit for me. Despite me being in the Mecca of shopping bliss (well Saskatoon's shopping mecca) I have chosen to be thankful for what I already have. Buying new clothing for the Christmas Season is great. A way to enjoy the blessings God has given you. But for me, for this Christmas Season, new clothing dangerously teeters on evoking a sense entitlement rather than gratitude. Examining my heart and truly seeking to celebrate Jesus' birthday I ask myself instead......what will I get for Jesus this Christmas. Perhaps a nice winter jacket in China might be fitting.