letter from the editor
in every issue
DECEMBER 2015
A She Magazine Christmas
I would give to have known then what I know now! The best thing
gifts of livestock and seed so that they can feed their families… not
I could have given my children for Christmas is the very thing that
just one meal, but many. It came in the realization that I had not
I now understand so clearly, yet still struggle to live out. You see,
ruined my kids with my overzealousness. In spite of my misguided
there is a part of me that still battles to keep Christmas in perspec-
attempts at playing Santa, my children embraced the true meaning
tive, because I so love the glitzy, commercialized Christmas that is
of Christmas.
for sale. I love the twinkle of lights on a Christmas tree and pret-
In the few years since that most wonderful of Christmas gifts was
ty packages tied with ribbons. I also still have the desire to make
given to me, I have (almost) mastered the art of a truly joyful Christ-
everyone on my list happy with the purchase of the one thing that
mas. I have learned that, as in all things in life, Christmas is about
they want most. Still, my heart longs for the real joy, found only in
balance. It’s totally fine to want to put a smile of the faces of those
that which cannot be purchased.
we love with a carefully chosen Christmas gift. It is also fine that I am
a totally, hopelessly a sap of a “Christmas person” at heart. I still feel
my head and heart all year round. Ask any of my employees (or my
like a child as I sing Christmas tunes and decorate my home. How-
children or my Dan) and they will tell you that I am apt to take off
ever, first and foremost on my mind must always be the beautiful
singing “Frosty the Snow Man” or “What Child Is This?” in the midst
truth that Christmas is not about presents. Christmas is about the
of a summer’s day. By the time October rolls around, I am already in
most precious Gift ever given. Jesus, the Christ, came on that first
There is a very good possibility that you, like I, have a grandfa-
the Christmas Spirit. Yet, the Spirit that lives inside of me calls me
Christmas morning, because “God so loved the world that He gave
ther or great-grandfather or some distant relative who shared
to something more. Perhaps the feeling I have is better explained by
His only begotten Son.” (John 3:16) Jesus came “not to be served,
stories of their childhood Christmases that yielded little more
the great wisdom of Dr. Seuss, in the words of the Grinch, realizing
but to serve.” (Matthew 20:28) Therefore, I have to remember to
than an apple or orange along with a few nuts (if they were ex-
he could not stop Christmas from coming, “And the Grinch, with his
serve others, as well. At Christmastime especially, we are reminded
tra blessed) in their stocking. My own father had such a story
Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how
that we are called to serve others. This is the reason we “give.”
and would often share it while looking with some degree of
could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It
As we give to each other, I pray that we all remember to give
disappointment upon the mountain of presents underneath
came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled
to those in need this Christmas (and throughout the year). In con-
our tree. Growing up, I could not understand my DaDa’s efforts
‘till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he
sidering the content for this issue, examples of giving to others was
to talk to us about a smaller Christmas list and the concept of
hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a
one of the things we wanted include. As you read “Making Spirits
less-is-more during the season of giving and getting. In fact, as
store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
Bright,” be inspired to look around you for those less-fortunate and
founder / editor / publisher
a mother myself, I easily managed to outdo the Christmases of
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
share your blessings of the season. We chose to call this Christmas
and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) Granted, that is
issue “A Very SHE Christmas” for a special reason. As with most
Reminiscing about the Christmases with my three little ones, I
not the typical verse of scripture we think about in connection with
things in this wor