Making Christmas More Meaningful
by Have a great holiday with out spending a lot of money.
Throughout my holidays with my family I have found that the most meaningful gifts were the one I gave to others. Don’t get me wrong receiving a nice gift is great. I have had expensive Christmas’s that seemed like forever to pay off and Christmas’s were we had lost our jobs due to the market change and had to be more creative.
Here are a few simple tips to make your season bright and spread the joy that is being lost in our technical age:
-
Whether it be at your local shelter, food line, or help deliver food for a family in need give up an hour or two. Take your family have them be a part of it to show them that the holidays are not just about receiving. I call it a reality check for the greedy.
-
Make a gift for each other.
Even if it’s not perfect, it comes from the heart and was especially made for you like a holiday card, ornaments from your cupboard dough water and salt, shape, bake and paint.
-
For those near parks or are surrounded by trees,
have a scavenger hunt for twigs when you get back string them into shapes like crosses, squares, or stars for your tree. -
Make each other stockings.
If you have extra material use that or if you can go to Wal-Mart or JoAnn’s Fabric or any store that has a clearance isle for fabric. I was able to pick up a few yards for a couple dollars and everyone still puts them out. -
Offer to help your neighbor
put up their lights -
Pick up a couple of boxes of holiday cards
(Wal-Mart has them for $3) and give them to your local care center. The residence don’t always get a visitor or a gift, the cards are a little something to brighten their day. - When you are out shopping and you can afford it,
have your children pick out a gift for another child. Then have them give it to the Salvation Army or where ever Toys for Tots. -
Have everyone pick names
in the family and then have them write at least 3 things of why they appreciate the other and put it in a holiday envelope. Decorate it and put it in or under your tree. One rule you must be nice. Christmas spirit comes from within. There should not be any rudeness, jokes or sarcasm in the letter. -
Have your little ones
create their own holiday tradition. What would they like to do for an hour or two on Christmas Eve or day? Parents keep a journal and put it away with the Christmas box. As the years go by see if they kept the tradition or changed it. When they get ready to move out give it to them. It will be a great gift they can keep and pass down when they start their family. A tradition in itself. -
Lastly,
when you are out and about this holiday season, share a smile or a simple hello and please have patience in lines. Not everyone can move as fast as we like and not everyone uses an ATM or Credit Card to pay. Some actually still use checks and cash.
May your holidays be filled with joy – so you may spread the happiness, love – so you may be able to care for another, faith – to believe in yourself and your dreams to never give up. May you have a Happy Christmas and great blessings for a fantastic New Year.
Liked it
