I went shopping last weekend for a hat, yes just a hat. There was such a hustle and bustle about the stores with people hacking their way through their Christmas lists. What should be fun for them seemed stressful. Here are some things that I heard:
I have to get this for Suzie and Tommie wants this but I can’t find it.
I am so stressed out.
I don’t have time to get all of this done.
I am tired.
I will have to wait until next week’s paycheck.
Let’s get this done so we can get the heck out of here.
This made me sad. This is not what the Christmas season is about. If this is you, I challenge you to do something different this year. Why not spend more time with family gatherings or going to Christmas programs, or having a movie night to watch Elf and play board games, how fun is that? I made up my mind a long time ago that I will not be bogged down with gift giving this time of year. I am not cheap and I love to give gifts from my heart throughout the year, not just because of the pressure of the season.
I don’t know how many times I have heard people say that they “they are going to buy Christmas”, or “my kids are going to have a Christmas”…..
With or without gifts….there is Christmas and I long for others to understand that the greatest gift of Christmas is a warm and loving heart toward one another the whole year through.
Peace to you and yours,
Helen