New! Christmas Devotion—Simplicity
"Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be" (Psalm 39:6). As a mom of three children, it’s no mistake that this verse was my writing assignment one week out from Christmas. Most parents feel like a “mere phantom” at this point in their preparations! Every year, I want to savor the traditions we find meaningful as a family; still, it sometimes feels like I am quickly checking off boxes of to-do’s. When I think about the mention of wealth in this Bible verse, it brings a particular holiday preparation to mind—presents. It is a joy to thoughtfully give to the people we love. I cannot escape the fact, however, that there is a growing mound of toys in my basement that have been discarded. Working hard to find, wrap, and give a present that eventually winds up in a corner does feel rather meaningless. While the commercialism of Christmas is meaningless, the Christ child is not. Over the year...
