Jesus Got Three And So Should We

Christmas is Jesus’s Birthday and yet we get all the presents. What’s up with that? I present to you, Jesus Got Three And So Should We.

One of the things I am so thankful for is the opportunity God has given me to travel to other countries on mission trips. These trips have been life-changing for me and for my whole family. It has changed my perspective. It has caused me to examine my life in ways I would have never done if not for my time overseas. It has forced me to see Christianity through the lens of the Bible and not through the eyes of an American. Don’t get me wrong, I love being an American! That said, we must take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, even our Christmas family gift-giving traditions.

Presents are one of my favorite parts of the season. I love to sit and think about each person on my list and imagine what they would like as a present, what gift would really encourage them as a person? Gift-giving is a part of Christmas because it is a part of the Christmas story. The wise men brought three gifts to Jesus, they presented Jesus with gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

In order to take this area of the Christmas Celebration “captive”, my husband and I have tried to go against our materialistic culture by giving each of our children three presents for Christmas. Yes, we were minimalists before it was even fashionable. Jesus received three gifts and so do each of our children. It is Jesus’s birthday after all! (We also give Jesus a gift). Simplifying the season has allowed us to focus on the true reason for the season, the birthday of Jesus. By adopting a “three present only rule” we have benefitted in many ways.