Will Not Engage

Last night Chad and I were watching live t.v. Granted this does not happen often since we like to record a program and then watch it without the commercials.
Every commercial seemed to be telling the viewer that the only way to enjoy Thanksgiving or Christmas was to BUY their product or do activities with companies. Right then and there I was convicted.
Yes, we want our children to have a "happy", full and fun Thanksgiving and Christmas, but what does that really mean? Is making them happy with worldly "stuff" really what we want to teach them? Do we want them to think that they can have all the new, better, fancier toys and gadgets money can buy just because the world says that is the meaning of the holidays?
The answer is simply, NO!
How to "fix" this in our home? Well, we are still figuring that one out. But, we do know that we are committed to helping other individuals and families in need. It is about the GIVING of God's love to others, not getting and being glutenous.
We want our girls to know that we should THANK our Lord and Savior for all things. He is the provider of Joy. We don't want them to be "happy," rather we desire for their hearts to be JOYFUL in the Lord.
One small step for our family, stop buying into the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Rather, we will aim to seek HIM and give HIM the thanks and praise for a wonderful life HE has given us; trials, tribulations, joys and mercies.
We will not engage in the buy, buy, buy. Our focus is HIM.
*Side note: We are not avoiding the gift giving, we want our girls to enjoy Jesus' birthday, but we are trying to find that fine line between celebrating HIS birth and an over commercialized world.