Ever since Thanksgiving, I have heard so many conversations about preparing for Christmas. People have been shopping for Christmas gifts for months, and whenever I am asked if I've started Christmas shopping yet, and the person on the other end of the question hears no, they are always shocked.
But I only have one person to buy a gift for this year, and that will take what? A 10 minute stop at a store? I have felt no urgency in starting early. The day before Christmas will be just fine.
A couple of years ago, my family all sat around my parent's house and took turns opening presents. It took more than an hour to finish opening all the gifts. We all received about 10 gifts each. We all spent money we didn't have, and we all received an access of gifts that we simply didn't need. After we were all finished, my Dad made a comment that this was OBSCENE. We vowed the next year we would draw names, and we did. And this year, we kept up with that tradition. We all drew one name. Simple. Affordable. And it kept the focus on what's important.
Taher and I always exchanged gifts though, regardless of the name drawing. Taher always spoiled me beyond belief with what he would get me. This year, when he asked what I wanted, I said nothing. And I truly meant it. I look around my house, and I already have too much stuff. I look in my closet, and I already have too many clothes and shoes. Not only is there nothing that I need, I realized there is also nothing that I want. I have it all. I truly do.
Christmas means different things to different people, and through the years, Christmas means something different to me. Christmas is more than the birth of Christ to me, because I think Christmas can be celebrated by everyone. . . not just those that consider Jesus to be their god.
To me, Christmas is about looking around you, and deciding what you can do for others. It is about finding peace in your own life, and committing deeds of unselfishness to others. Christmas isn't about buying and receiving a ton of presents, it is about looking around you and sharing the wealth. Christmas is about forgiveness and moving on. It's about healing, meditation, choosing happiness, and reaching out to others.
What is Christmas to you?
7 comments:
Wonderful post. It isbeautiful. Merry Christmas!!!
Christmas to me is waking up with my children and watching their happy faces bright and early in the morning. Spending time I don't normally spend on a daily basis sitting with no TV on or computers on and drinking hot cocoa watching them play. It's about my families happiness.
I am not religious. so Christmas isn't about celebrating Jesus's Birth. If it were I would think I would have issues with celebrating something like that on the wrong day.
Oh, I'm glad to hear that our families do similar things for the holidays. We also had a moment a couple of years ago when we realized the gift-giving had gotten out of control. Nobody was enjoying the giving, and that's the part that is supposed to matter. Now we do a group exchange.
To me, Christmas is about being with people you love, spending special time together, and enjoying peace.
We would love to pull names for Christmas, but my mom has refused! She says she gets too much joy out of buying something special for everyone (she looks year-round so she doesn't spend all of her money at once at least), so she doesn't want to be limited on what she can buy. With 5 brothers and sisters, parents, nephew, godchildren, best friends, it gets to be a bit much...
Glad your family could find something that works for you!
Merry Christmas, Leah! I think that is great that your family has found a way to reduce stress and the massive consumerism that has become Christmas. I have been doing a lot of thinking about how I want to handle gift giving at Christmas when our little one is home. I want to give them some gifts but not have it be out of control that they expect a boatload and miss the point of Christmas. It sounds like you guys are on the right track!
Christmas, to me, is all about going to Mass and being together. Church makes all the difference to me. We never went as a child and, as an adult, it is something I love more than my tree and all the presents combined. I look forward to sharing that tradition with Bobby and Maya.
Christmas to me is finding JOY through selfless giving to others. This Christmas is bittersweet for me, as December was to be our baby's birth month, but he was born to heaven instead. It's been hard to embrace the season, I must admit. However, I knew that if I was to honor my angel I needed to do something in his honor. So, I embarked on a philanthropic mission to collect Winter clothing for local homeless men, women and children. I found healing through giving and it felt so good :)
And, my fondest memory of Christmas is to think of the miracle of Jesus birth and the real Christmas story.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and am so happy you were able to simplify things. Enjoy your holiday and know that I'm sending you best wishes for 2010.
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