Halloween has just wrapped up and all the unwrapped candy has been ingested by all the little trick-or-treaters. My mums are prettier than ever and my pumpkins are still sitting pretty in the patch I made for them. I just took down the scarecrows and witches from the spooky night when out of sight comes a Christmas commercial.
Are you kidding me?
It’s only the beginning of November and the greedy mongrels have forced Christmas down my throat already. I LOVE Christmas! It’s my favorite holiday. As children my brother and I were spoiled. There was no room left under the tree when Santa left our house. It looked like we had our very own Toys R Us in the living room. It was magical.
I loved everything about December and the days leading up to family dinners, cookies, snowmen, presents, and winter vacation! It was a glorious time of year.
I made my list every year. I wrote it in crayon and made it big so Santa could read it without any problems. I even ripped out magazine pages with the toys so Old Saint Nick would know exactly what I wanted. I wasn’t very subtle. Even as a child I got right to the point. (I guess some things never change)
I called the North Pole and spoke to some elves. I made sure I was a good little girl because I never wanted coal under the tree for me.
My childhood memories of Christmas were unbelievable. I love my family and everything about the holidays; with them it was always perfect.
Then, I grew up. It’s still perfect. But, let’s be serious. For a little while it changed. The magic was gone. But as I grew even older I realized that the magic is just beginning.
It’s really not about the gifts. It’s about giving. That is the best gift of all. Sounds cliché, but I know it’s true.
My mom called me this week and said, “Instead of gifts this year lets give to the children who need it most. We have everything we want and need.”
My mother is right. There is nothing we need. If I want it I buy it. I don’t wait for anyone to get it for me. I have all the handbags, shoes, jewelry, coats, and perfume I will ever need.
My house is furnished, my family is full, and my heart is happy. Life is good for me. I thank God everyday.
I am so tired of seeing the commercials on television. Buy, buy, buy and that will make you happy!
I’m not against the presents and shopping. I’m against turning this awesome time of the year into a job that you hate rather than a holiday you can’t wait to celebrate.
We have lost the spirit. We are greedy and materialistic.
Every year I do buy presents. I walk around aimlessly through the shopping malls and run from store to store to check off my list. I have toned it down, but I still have something for everyone I love.
Each year I try to top the gift from last year, but it’s almost impossible to do. You simply run out of great ideas.
However, I have the secret to the best gifts in the world. HOMEMADE!
A do it yourself number never gets old.
Since I was a child I loved to write. So, every year I made homemade cards for my parents. I used crayons, pen, pencil, and paint. Everything about them came straight from my little heart.
My parents loved them.
Now, that I’m older I still do it and I even branched out into the family. I do it for my grandparents, my brother, and a few others.
It’s important to me that the most important people in my life know what they mean to me. Now, everything is written straight from my big heart.
Every year they wait patiently for their cards. These days I print them on pretty paper. Maybe I will get creative with my Crayola again one day.
The cards are special to me. It’s a tradition and every year the night before Christmas Eve I sit up and type away until the wee hours of the morning. I love the pressure.
My cards make grown men weep. To them I write how I feel and from them I get the best reactions and feelings in the world. Proud parents…you could say that. Every year my mother’s same reaction, “Janine, you are a great writer; I don’t know why you aren’t doing anything about it.”
Mom, I am. I write to you and the ones I love. I have made our traditions greater. I have given you something precious from my heart that can never get old, go out of style, not fit, not be liked, or be returned.
This year if you can you should do something special not just swipe your credit card a hundred times.
Volunteer at a homeless shelter, sponsor a family in need, go to the hospitals, and invite lonely people over to celebrate. Whatever you do make it meaningful.
Nothing saddens me more than seeing people alone on the holidays. Maybe it’s hypocritical to say that about just the holidays, but that’s where the magic comes into play. That’s what the spirit is all about.
If you make it a homemade kind of year…I promise someone will shed a tear of happiness.
This thing we call Christmas has turned into a monster. It’s like a tornado that comes into town and leaves us broke, miserable, in debt, and out of touch with the true meaning.
Commercial Christmas is all about money. Make your holidays all about family and friends.
Make it count. I don’t remember all the toys I received. But, I do remember the memories of family, the traditions, and the warmth of the season.
On this beautiful Commercial Christmas, remember to give and you will receive. Turn off the television and turn on your hearts. Instead of commercial make it personal.
P.S.
Merry Christmas in November, put off the pressure till December, and try to
keep singing with cheer when your mountain of debt arrives for a wonderful Happy New Year!
