openhearted
christmasI am a floral designer at Michaels Arts & Craft stores. During the holidays my sales increase to over 75% of normal. What I can't understand is the spending. Why someone would pay $110-$200 for a faux arrangement, when so many people are without food, heat, jobs. When did Christmas become so commercialized? Can anyone date it back to when the zaniness of overspending began? As a child our Christmas was always about getting together with family. We spent Christmas eve with an open house of buffet style goodies, people coming over. On Christmas day, we opened our gifts, which were usually2 or 3 gifts, then got dressed in our new clothes, and went to Grandma's house for Christmas Dinner. We also went to church on Christmas Eve for the midnight service. The holidays for me were filled with foods from all types. From the cheese ball, to the pigs in a blanket, to the sugar cookies, jams, pies, cakes, fudge, and homemade treats. Christmas tunes of yesteryear off in the distance. Family dancing.All the cousins outside playing together, was something we looked forward to every year. Looking back, I can clearly remember who was there, and what we had to eat. However, I cannot remember what I received for gifts all those years. Only one present stays in my mind. All the rest is forgotten. Are the gifts the most important part of the celebration? If they are, then why is it that they are not remembered? I wonder if everyone stopped giving gifts, and focused only on family/friends getting together. Great foods,and houses filled with cheer. Gather by the piano, sing a few carols. Go out caroling, stop over for eggnog at your neighbors' house, visit church during a candlelight ceremony. Visit your local food kitchen and donate your time, but please do not base the entire day on what to buy for someone, or how can you give back to someone who has given to you. I remember becoming so stressed over gift giving. I have 4 grandchildren. I made columns with their names on top. I would list each item that I purchased, with the amout of each item next to it. This way I could keep track of how much I spent on each kid, to be fair. Then if the columns did not match in equal value, I would have to run to the store and find a gift of equal value. At Christmas, I would always be concerned over how happy I made each person, and if they liked what I bought for them. The whole feeling of Christmas was lost while I rushed around trying to please everyone. Really is that what God had intended when he sent his only son to be born on Christmas day? How have we gotten so far removed from the epicenter of the true meaning of the day? Most importantly, how do we get back?
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