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Celebrate Simply: Your Guide to Simpler, More Meaningful Holidays and Special Occasions
Have you ever dreamed of simpler celebrations that leave you exhilarated rather than exhausted? Overjoyed instead of overwhelmed? If so, stop dreaming and start reading. This book is for you. Emphasizing on low cost but high value, Celebrate Simply illustrates easy yet effective strategies to help * Give meaningful gifts that are within your means * Add spiritual significance to your celebrations * Extend hospitality without the stress of trying to impress guests * Give one of the most precious gifts ever—the gift of your time Can celebrations be simple, yet significant? Certainly! And Celebrate Simply shows you how.
208 pages, Paperback
First published August 25, 2003
15 people want to read
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January 4, 2024
A CHRISTIAN PROVIDES SUGGESTIONS FOR MAKING HOLIDAYS MORE MEANINGFUL
Author Nancy Twigg wrote in the introduction to this 2006 book, “Have you ever longed for more meaningful holidays? Do you often feel overwhelmed by all the planning and shopping and spending and wrapping, and wish that celebrations didn’t have to be so complicated? Do special occasions in your family frequently get out of hand, tempting you to opt out completely? If so, this book is for you. The message of this book is simple: holidays don’t have to be complex. They don’t have to be stressful. The sentiment of the special day---whether it’s Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day, or Valentine’s Day---doesn’t have to get lost in the confusion of commercialization. There’s another way, a better way. And that’s what I share in this book.” (Pg. 11)
She adds, “Let me assure you that there’s a simple, more meaningful route to holiday harmony. One that involves less stress and less expense. One that leaves family members exhilarated, not exhausted. l can’t say that my family attains this harmony for each and every holiday or that we never temporarily veer off course. But we’ve learned a beautifully simple and meaningful way of honoring the special events and seasons in our lives. We’ve crossed over to the simpler side of celebrating. We can now say with full assurance, ‘Celebrations can be simple! They can be meaningful! They don’t have to be stressful!’ My goal in writing this book is to present you with a treasure trove of ideas for making your own family celebrations close to what you truly want them to be. If reading these pages inspires you to change the way you celebrate, and equips you with new ideas to help make those changes, [this book] has fulfilled this purpose.” (Pg. 14)
She notes, “The Bible gives us a beautiful example of meaningful gift giving in Mark 12:41-44… Mark describes how Jesus carefully observed worshippers dropping their offering gifts into the temple treasury. After watching many of the rich contribute substantial sums, He noticed a poor widow dropping in two small copper coins… these coins were only worth a fraction of a penny, yet Jesus praised the woman for her generosity. Jesus told his disciples that the rich gave out of their abundance; they had plenty more at home so the gifts they gave meant little to them. The widow, on the other hand, had nothing else to give. Though small in monetary value, her gift was perfect because it was given out of great love and personal sacrifice.” (Pg. 20-21)
She suggests, “If you’re tired of ordinary gifts and want to give something with substance, consider giving a gift with spiritual significance. These special gifts have a tremendous potential for helping the recipient draw closer to God and become the Christlike person she wants to be. Unlike presents that are quickly forgotten, these gifts can make a lasting impression because they touch the recipient’s heart and spirit. What better gift to give than the gift of a stronger, more vibrant spiritual life? Here are some ideas---both store-bought and homemade---for spiritually significant gifts.” (Pg. 40)
She observes, “Somewhere around September of October, retailers begin peddling Christmas joy and don’t let up until after New Year’s Day. Everywhere we look, we’re surrounded by this artificial, commercialized brand of Christmas spirit. No wonder so many of us feel let down when Christmas Day finally comes and goes without the big bang you’d expect after three months of hype.” (Pg. 47)
She states, “I believe that all Christians intellectually understand the reason for the Christmas season. But it’s a sad irony that little evidence of spiritual significance is apparent in the way many of us celebrate. Often, Santa Claus plays a bigger role in the festivities than Jesus. It’s sad, too, that the Good News of Christ’s birth is given only a cursory nod before moving on to what has become the REAL reason for the season---receiving a windfall of presents from the jolly fellow in the red suit.” (Pg. 64-65)
She explains, “Chrismons are Christian symbols used to decorate a Christmas tree. The name ‘Chrismon’ is a contraction of the words ‘Christ monogram.’ These ornaments help convey the story of Christ through symbols. Rather than using traditional ornaments that hold little or no meaning, churches often choose to decorate their holiday trees with handmade Chrismons because of their spiritual significance.” (Pg. 72)
This book may appeal to Christians seeking to modify their approach to the holiday.
Author Nancy Twigg wrote in the introduction to this 2006 book, “Have you ever longed for more meaningful holidays? Do you often feel overwhelmed by all the planning and shopping and spending and wrapping, and wish that celebrations didn’t have to be so complicated? Do special occasions in your family frequently get out of hand, tempting you to opt out completely? If so, this book is for you. The message of this book is simple: holidays don’t have to be complex. They don’t have to be stressful. The sentiment of the special day---whether it’s Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day, or Valentine’s Day---doesn’t have to get lost in the confusion of commercialization. There’s another way, a better way. And that’s what I share in this book.” (Pg. 11)
She adds, “Let me assure you that there’s a simple, more meaningful route to holiday harmony. One that involves less stress and less expense. One that leaves family members exhilarated, not exhausted. l can’t say that my family attains this harmony for each and every holiday or that we never temporarily veer off course. But we’ve learned a beautifully simple and meaningful way of honoring the special events and seasons in our lives. We’ve crossed over to the simpler side of celebrating. We can now say with full assurance, ‘Celebrations can be simple! They can be meaningful! They don’t have to be stressful!’ My goal in writing this book is to present you with a treasure trove of ideas for making your own family celebrations close to what you truly want them to be. If reading these pages inspires you to change the way you celebrate, and equips you with new ideas to help make those changes, [this book] has fulfilled this purpose.” (Pg. 14)
She notes, “The Bible gives us a beautiful example of meaningful gift giving in Mark 12:41-44… Mark describes how Jesus carefully observed worshippers dropping their offering gifts into the temple treasury. After watching many of the rich contribute substantial sums, He noticed a poor widow dropping in two small copper coins… these coins were only worth a fraction of a penny, yet Jesus praised the woman for her generosity. Jesus told his disciples that the rich gave out of their abundance; they had plenty more at home so the gifts they gave meant little to them. The widow, on the other hand, had nothing else to give. Though small in monetary value, her gift was perfect because it was given out of great love and personal sacrifice.” (Pg. 20-21)
She suggests, “If you’re tired of ordinary gifts and want to give something with substance, consider giving a gift with spiritual significance. These special gifts have a tremendous potential for helping the recipient draw closer to God and become the Christlike person she wants to be. Unlike presents that are quickly forgotten, these gifts can make a lasting impression because they touch the recipient’s heart and spirit. What better gift to give than the gift of a stronger, more vibrant spiritual life? Here are some ideas---both store-bought and homemade---for spiritually significant gifts.” (Pg. 40)
She observes, “Somewhere around September of October, retailers begin peddling Christmas joy and don’t let up until after New Year’s Day. Everywhere we look, we’re surrounded by this artificial, commercialized brand of Christmas spirit. No wonder so many of us feel let down when Christmas Day finally comes and goes without the big bang you’d expect after three months of hype.” (Pg. 47)
She states, “I believe that all Christians intellectually understand the reason for the Christmas season. But it’s a sad irony that little evidence of spiritual significance is apparent in the way many of us celebrate. Often, Santa Claus plays a bigger role in the festivities than Jesus. It’s sad, too, that the Good News of Christ’s birth is given only a cursory nod before moving on to what has become the REAL reason for the season---receiving a windfall of presents from the jolly fellow in the red suit.” (Pg. 64-65)
She explains, “Chrismons are Christian symbols used to decorate a Christmas tree. The name ‘Chrismon’ is a contraction of the words ‘Christ monogram.’ These ornaments help convey the story of Christ through symbols. Rather than using traditional ornaments that hold little or no meaning, churches often choose to decorate their holiday trees with handmade Chrismons because of their spiritual significance.” (Pg. 72)
This book may appeal to Christians seeking to modify their approach to the holiday.
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