Empower Network

As I sit here, the Christmas clock is ticking away. Only 12 days left until the celebration of the birth of Christ and yet….nothing has been done. This is the first time in 53 years that I haven’t done a single thing to prepare for this wonderful celebration. Up until a month ago, I was getting geared up and ready to swing into the spirit of the season.

However, all the plans were suddenly laid aside when my husbands brother died unexpectedly Thanksgiving night. (http://www.empowernetwork.com/mreidy/blog/how-do-you-live-your-life-what-matters-the-most-to-you/) Normally this time of year I would have been pulling boxes out of storage, decorating the house, shopping, baking and writing the annual Christmas letter. Instead, I found myself making funeral arrangements, funeral masses and handling all the details for my grieving in-laws.

The “Merry Christmas” we had planned for our family hasn’t quite been what it normally is but what it has done is given me cause to once again remember what is most important in this life. Instead of getting wrapped up in the consumption of Christmas, we have been doing our spending in areas that really matter. We have been spending more time with my in-laws. We have been spending more time with one another (actual time conversing rather than sitting in front of the t.v. together). I’ve been spending more of time in areas of service. Christmas should be a time to love our friends and family in the most memorable ways possible. Time is the real gift Christmas offers us, and no matter how hard we look, it can’t be found at the mall or on the internet.

My challenge to you is this. Rather then spending the season in a frenzy of shopping, decorating and consuming….SLOW DOWN. Spend time with your family, your friends – give gifts that will be remembered and cherished for a lifetime….give the gift of yourself. Wouldn’t it be wonderful that if when the January credit card bills arrived you wouldn’t find yourself facing bankruptcy? Well, if what you’re “spending” more of is time, then that won’t be a problem for you! This year I encourage you to find a deeper meaning to Christmas, rather then buying and getting caught up in the consumerism of Christmas….get caught up in the true meaning of Christmas – love more, spend less and be blessed!