Keep the goal in mind

Yes, stuff distracts us. The more we acquire, the more we are distracted from the things we already have and from more important things, including the message of hope and joy from our Savior. Holiday fanfare can be distracting, so it’s no surprise that obsessive Christians idealize a gift-free Christmas spent serving at a homeless shelter. There’s a place for that (I’ve spent a couple of Christmases serving at homeless shelters), but joyful celebrations have their place as well.—Radically Normal, electronic edition