It seems as if the Christmas ads started early this year...earlier than in the past. We barely made it into October before we started to become bombarded with everything we could buy our loved ones for Christmas. Love your spouse...buy them a new car! Love your children...buy them a new gaming system. Want the best deals...wake up early on black Friday and SHOP! On and on and on it went till it seemed as if Thanksgiving was forgotten all together or overshadowed by black Friday shopping. Halloween was remembered, but only to urge us to buy candy, candy, candy. And all of it makes me sad that our Christmas season has truly become a season of consumerism.
The joy of the Christmas season should not be the joy of giving mass produced gifts to your loved ones, but rather should be the joy of helping others. Kids now a days seem to have more toys than they know what to do with. I am sure that there is a risk of our daughter being no different, but truly I DO want her to be different. I want to teach her the importance of making a positive impact on the world, that little things do matter, and that gifts are just items. I want our families to know that Christmas for us will not be about how many toys we can fit under the tree for Emma, but rather that there will be a price limit (because I also don't want to take away from our family giving something to their granddaughter/niece/etc). I do get the joy of seeing a child open a gift they really wanted, but I also want Emma to know that there is more to Christmas than gifts. I want Emma's first thoughts on Christmas not to be about what toys she wants Santa to bring, but how can she help others this year.
Today I wrapped and dropped off at the library gifts that we had purchased from a wish tree for our local state hospital. Part psych hospital, part rehab hospital, located just 2 miles from us, on beautiful grounds, but it is a truly old school hospital on the inside. If you've never chosen to purchase a gift off a wish tree for Christmas let me assure you that what people ask for will truly make your heart ache. Growing up I've asked for and received computers, expensive perfumes, name brand purses, a grill, a Playstation 2, a Wii...my sister and I almost always got everything we asked for and never thought anything else about it. But as I got older and was in a position where I could afford to purchase items from a wish tree I started to realize how truly spoiled and blessed we have been.
So if you see a wish tree I urge you to grab a tag and purchase a gift for someone else. That heart ache thing...for around $30 we purchased gifts for 3 people, 2 females and a male. What they asked for for Christmas...cosmetics, sweat pants, and green socks...all things that I would purchase for myself without a second thought and yet, out of everything they could've asked for for Christmas, these are the items that these 3 wanted for Christmas.
Another charity we always support is Toys for Tots....we have a large bag of toys that we've purchased and saved through out the year ready to be donated. This is a wicked easy way to help those less fortunate because after holidays like Easter stores like Walmart will sell the leftover stuffed animals for $1. Stock up and save those items for Toys for Tots. I think after last Easter we got an entire shopping cart worth of stuff for under $30.
Find your favorite charity and make a donation in loved ones names. St. Jude is a great organization that never turns anyone away for inability to pay. God forbid you end up in a situation where your child has to be treated at St. Jude, but how great to know that there are people out there making it affordable for you to go there. If you go to their website they will send the cards out to whoever you designate with your donation AND they have beautiful gifts for sale that proceeds support the hospital.
Salvation Army. What a huge organization that provides so many great services for our homeless and substance abuse populations among numerous others. Will you really miss that $1 or 50 cents that it's in your wallet or the change from the purchase you just made?
Charity should not be confined to the holidays though. There are little things that cost nothing that you can easily do year round. For book lovers/book purchasers donate books to your local library after you read them. Most libraries have book sales to raise money for library programs, etc.
Another thing that I never would have thought of, but that my mom has done is to contact local hotels and ask them for their old sheets/towels/blankets. In most cases hotels just throw away these items even though they are still good. Go pick up the linens and take them to your local humane society/animal shelter. For sure those places always needs linens for the animals they assume care of.
Volunteer. Mentor. Even look a homeless person in the eye and say hi to him/her. Recognize them for the person they are. When you are at the grocery pick up an extra canned good or 2 and drop it in the bin for the local food pantry.
We are all so blessed in our lives and the thought that is always in my mind is "There but for the grace of God."
Leave a comment and let us know what your favorite charities or volunteer activities are. You may inspire someone to make a difference in a new way.
Merry Christmas!
I love reading your blogs, they are both funny and inspirational. I like the Ronald McDonald House, they provide accomadations for families with chidren in the hospital for a mere $10 per day. God forbid you ever need to use this, but I know people who have, and said they are wonderful. Also,any local Hospice is a great charity. These people truly are angels on earth.
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