It’s About Giving

The last few weeks, as I have been going through blog corners, doing work on the Internet, etc. I have seen Christmas posts everywhere.  Yet, I have not been at peace with any of these topics, nor have I felt God whisper that I am to share ideas on crafting, decorating, etc.

This is where I am…..this Christmas season….

I have not felt like giving gifts this year either. Phew….there I said it.

I love to give. I love to do for others.

So this….this not wanting to give gifts…. is very odd for me.

I grew up not having “Christmas” in my immediate family. Growing up I couldn’t wait to have my own family so we could have “Christmas”….. Presents, lights, parties, etc. I’ve spent the last 8 Christmas’ making sure everything was decorated, bought, wrapped beautifully, etc. Just perfectly.

Yet what for? Is this truly what makes “Christmas”? It’s taken me 8 years as a mother to realize how terribly wrong I was.

“Christmas” isn’t about the lights…..the perfectly decorated home……or the perfectly wrapped presents.

Christmas came…..as a newborn babe wrapped in swaddling cloths…..lying in a manger….born to live……to give everything to those IN NEED……by dying on a tree……for ALL……giving what they TRULY NEED……LIFE

This year, I was DELIGHTED that Good Morning Girls created an Advent Study, which I am LOVING and sharing with about a dozen other girls in my Facebook group.

I was EXCITED when Ann Voskamp shared her Jesse Tree Advent Study, so I could include my kiddos in this new tradition as well!

This has been my focus this year.

Slowing our Christmas season down, cherishing the true meaning of Christmas…..our Savior.

I truly believe that this change in me, started when I read Ann Voskamp’s book “1000 Gifts”. As I have been counting and opening my eyes, brightly seeing all the wonderful gifts that God has given me. Right where I am. Without anything added.

I have everything I need. I have mostly everything I want as well. I am beyond cared for. I am truly beyond blessed. I am spoiled.

Giving looks very different for my family and I this year.

My children don’t NEED anything. Sure they want a lot, but that doesn’t matter. They don’t need anything.

This year, they were not allowed to make a list of “wants”.

They were only allowed to talk about things they wanted to give others.  Nothing about themselves.

I took both of the kiddos shopping for stocking stuffers, they spent their own allowance on others. No big gifts, only things that would fit in the stockings.

Remember we don’t NEED anything. Yet, I want to continue cultivating their giving attitude and actions.

I went so far last night, as to tell my hubby that I really didn’t feel like giving gifts this year.

I asked what his plans for his family were, and he said he didn’t know.

I told him that I was planning on baking goodies for everyone, and that I loved his idea from last year.

We invited each of his family members over for dinner separately. This allowed for a personal dinner, and gave us quality time together with each of them.

This is our first Christmas without my father in law, which is hard. He truly made me feel like I was really a part of the family. Not just an in law.

This year, I allowed myself to purchase 2 gifts for each of our immediate family members.

One gift they could use, and one they would like.

That is it.

In doing so I have been able to make this Christmas about giving……to others…..who are in NEED.

I have allotted $ this Christmas to the following organizations….

I will be participating with the Good Morning Girls in raising $ to provide water for the people of Liberia.

I will be giving towards Compassion’s Gift Catalog and Samaritan’s Purse Gift Catalog.

This Christmas looks very different……new traditions…..new goals…..touching new lives…..

It’s about giving of ourselves, not a pretty wrapped present……