American Christmas

We arrived in the States just a few short days before Christmas. Thinking about buying gifts and decorating a house could have been an overwhelming task. The cultural shock of shopping in general can be rough enough when coming home on furlough. The grocery store in Brazil where I do most of my shopping has four short aisles. There's one brand of most things and most of the stuff sold in American grocery stores doesn't even exist. Transport yourself to a Walmart Super Center on Christmas Eve with all those aisles and all those people and all that stuff!

Thankfully my family is not materialistic. The week before Christmas was spent at my parents' house in Virginia with all our immediate family all around. We enjoyed good homecooking and simple gifts. Our boys got to spend quality time with grandparents and cousins.

Simple gifts are the best. Consider if your holiday celebrations are truly honoring to God. Do you spend money that you really don't have for things that no one really needs? On the mission field our presents are simple and practical but always full of love. The day before Christmas we went to one of the biggest malls around. The first store we went in was one of my favorites. I had a special discount coupon for 20% off my entire purchase. I began to think of all the things my boys needed. We came to the States rather "clothes poor." As I walked around I began to rationalize using my coupon right then and there to have lots of gifts under our tree. I found my arms getting fuller as I saw more good stuff. All around me people were standing in line to buy things.

Then I stopped, took a deep breathe, remembered how things are, and put down the stuff in my arms. Using that coupon would have saved lots of money but not making the purchase saved even more. I still need to buy some things for my boys but I'll go to Good Will and bide my time for a better sale day on which to use my coupon.

Comments

My Promise Verse

Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. This verse has been a favorite of mine since I was a teenager. When I was a high school senior at a Christian school in Virginia, Job 23:10 was chosen as our class theme verse. At our graduation commencement, the valedictorian and saludatorian in their addresses that day divided the verse in its two natural parts as a basis for the core of each one's address. I was the salutatorian of my senior class that year. I chose to speak of how God would one day reward our faithfulness and thus, we should always strive to remain true. For many years though, the first part of the verse haunted me in a way. As a missionary especially when times were lonely or difficult, I assumed it was my "trial" or "test," and as such must be accepted in all humility. As I have grown older, I have begun to look more toward the pearly gates and have reconsidered the thr...

Old Film, Same Message

A missionary colleague recently uploaded some old films made about the work in Brazil by Baptist Mid-Missions many years ago in the 1950's. Yesterday I was able to watch the first of the series. All I can say is "Wow! Things haven't changed much in Brazil. And things haven't changed too much with the work of missions in Brazil either!" There are still donkey carts in the street. They have better wheels nowadays! There are still people who live in grass huts and high apartment buildings, too. Bicycles are still many people's only means of transportation, if they are that lucky! Many roads in the interior towns are still paved with cobblestones, if they are paved at all. And yes, chickens are everywhere, even in big cities. Brazil still needs missionaries! That's right, Brazil is not evangelized and in no need of foreign missionaries today. It still needs workers to spread the Good News of the Gospel and the Risen Saviour! Sadly that part of t...

Core Memories: Furlough 2018

I happened upon an archive of old home video from our furlough in 2018 while transferring items to a new laptop. Oh, what fun to watch! Decided to put them in a little video collage. Making important memories while in the USA with our grands is important! It takes a little effort and a little intent. Enjoy! In memory of Papa Potter

Cactus Flower

Search This Blog