I have felt so much releif this Holiday season not feeling the pressure of having to buy for so many people or having to spend the right amount of money on people. We don't have a lot of money this year and we are working with what we have. I believe I've done good with what we have and this year I did tend to put more thought into gifts. Even when I dispersed the candles I made for gifts I thought about what scent the person I'm giving it to would really like. Grant and I haven't bought for one another since we were friends. He has written me some nice letters for a gift which mean more to me than any gift he could've given me. It was funny because Grant last night said something about Jesus wanting us to buy buy buy! It made me think, did Jesus intend for Christmas to be the way it's turned out. Parents feeling they have to spend so much on a child or get them everything they've asked for. What's happened to the simplicity and joy of Christmas. We had a $50 limit on Amber and that was keeping the gifts simple like and we did consistently remind her why we really are celebrating Christmas.
So this is with hope that Christmas if not this year in years to come will be simple and calming the way it was meant to be!
Daymaking this Holiday Season!
Happy Holidays my fellow Daymaker,
This time of year always holds something very special for my family and me and this year of course is no exception. As we all know the economy is a major concern, people are being laid off work, charities are having a difficult time raising money for their worthy causes, and with everything the government tries to do to reverse this downward cycle there simply seems no relief in sight?
For me what I've learned during these difficult past months has been a real blessing. I usually begin writing down ideas of what to get the people in my life for Christmas a few months ahead of time so I have the time to find something special. When the economy began to weaken so did my ability to purchase the number of gifts as I had in years past. At first I felt scared, defeated, and wary of what kind of holiday season this would be for my friends and my family without the usual surprises under the tree at our home.
What I found is that once I stopped having the "pity party" with myself I noticed giving in a new light and the opportunities for giving became inspiring.
Here is one idea that came to mind that I expect I'll continue in years to come? As you may know I'm an avid reader and have quite an extensive library with all kinds of books. I sat one night with my list and went through my library looking for the perfect book for that person and inscribed the inside cover to them with words of gratitude and love for being part of my life. What I found was that the gift I was giving ended up being a gift to myself as I wrote those words to friends and family. As I wrote down my inscription the gift I was given was the realization of how blessed I was to have that person in my life. The joy in that one evening honestly was better than any shopping splurge I'd been on in years past.
This year my wife Charlie and I talked about what we thought we might want or need for a gift from each other. What we came to realize was that we had everything we needed and more. To take the worry and stress out of trying to find something that would impress or satisfy each other with a gift, was the gift we gave each other this year. We're celebrating each other and that is more than enough this year.
To simply enjoy what we mean to each other and talk about it has enlivened our holiday season and we both feel fulfilled in our day. Of course there will be stocking stuffers that are unique and witty yet I realize that to be with her in this life is my present?
What I also noticed this year with the absence of so much gift buying and racing around from store to store is that I've had time to live in the spirit of the season. I heard Christmas music in a different way this year. I heard the words and reveled in them. I noticed and appreciated the bell ringers in a new way. I watched as my daughters did their baking for the last day of school before break and how intent they were on getting their cupcakes just right. I've been so busy rushing around buying things in years past and checking off my list that I simply didn't notice these gifts of the season.
Yesterday I went to the coffee shop and my coffee was $1.85, the girl behind the counter gave me my 15 cents change and I pulled another dollar out and gave her $1.15. You'd think I gave her a hundred dollar bill she was so grateful? She made my day with her appreciation and I felt generous in my day and imagine it only cost me $1. The world is full of perfect moments and that was one of them.
I wish you well in your holiday season and hope that we can all get through these challenging times with grace, goodwill, and the ability to see how fortunate we are because no matter how bad things are there is always someone else that is fighting a tougher fight.
This is going to be a year I believe that what you write on the gift card could be as much of a keepsake for your friends and family as the gift that it accompanies. I encourage you to spend some extra time on your card this year, listen to your heart and write down your love, appreciation, and admiration for the special people in your life. You'll find like I did that it made my own day in doing so. It allowed me to see how abundant my life is with these beautiful people in it.
Love and peace to you in this blessed holiday season,
David Wagner
www.daymakermovement.com
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