Christmas, Credit Cards, and Cranky ol' ladies
I stood in the check out line the other day, watching the woman in front of me, as she had all 5 of her credit cards declined. Then she proceeded to have a meltdown - screaming at the cashier, as if the declined cards was somehow her fault, (poor cashier) before finally storming out of the store, leaving all of her items behind. Then there was an old lady, a few people behind me. I had heard her mumbling as soon as she lined up - complaining about the wait. But when some young guy tried to break into the line up in front of her, all hell broke loose. There were LOUD words exchanged between the two, clearly heard over the soft sounds of Bing Crosby's "Have yourself a very Merry Christmas" playing on the loud speaker in the background, and at one point I thought for sure she was gonna take him out with her handbag. Nothing like a good ol' handbag fight and some fowl language to get ya in a festive mood!! haha Hilarious! Christmas...... It's meant to be such a special time of the year!! Yet, we've turned it into long "I WANT" lists, racked up credit card bills, overworked retail workers, and cranky, stressed out shoppers. We're so busy taking Christ out of Christmas that we've forgotten why we celebrate it in the first place. We have removed the true meaning of what Christmas is all about. Every year as the holiday gets closer I hear people complain about missing the "holiday spirit." "Just don't feel the mood anymore" they say. Hmm...I wonder why?!! We spend an inordinate amount of time focused on shopping and buying gifts. We practically kill ourselves buying trees we can't afford. We run up our credit cards buying toys and gifts, and empty our bank accounts overstocking our pantry's with more food than we can eat. All in an effort to make someone else happy!!! Yet, I have to wonder......... On Christmas morning, as we sit around the tree, waist deep in torn Christmas wrap, are we really happier people? As we loosen our belts or slip into our "elastic waist pants" after the huge Christmas meal, complaining all afternoon about how full and fat we feel, are we really happier people? What if, just for one year we decided to cut our gifts by at least half, and instead, gave back to those in need? What if, we went into our closets, grabbed old toys and clothes, and provided them to those without? What if, instead of gorging on food, we used some of it to feed those who are hungry? What if, we took our family and spent part of Christmas day volunteering at the soup kitchen? What if, instead of buying gift cards for our friends, we gave the money to a charity instead? A friend of mine watched a celebrity on TV (I don't know which one) talking about her favorite Christmas memory. It was the time her family and friends got together on Christmas morning and instead of giving gifts to each other they each brought a small paper bag with their name on it and some paper. Throughout the day they would each take turns writing something on a small piece of paper and dropping it into each other's paper bag. By the end of the day their bags were each filled with appreciation, compliments, memories, and thank-you's (only for them), from the people they love. What a special and memorable Christmas that must have been!! This year, I have cut back on Christmas giving, and have given to the food bank/charities instead. Yesterday, I sent a cheque to a local family, whose son is dying of cancer. The Dad has used all his holiday/sick time/family time at work, and is now torn between paying his mortgage or being there for his son. I sent him his mortgage payment for December. My friend sent January's. It's not much, but it definitely renewed the warm Christmas fuzzies within me. As for the paper bags... I would like to try that at our house - and I will. But with my disfunctional (yet marvelous) bunch, I could see the bags containing things like " you're funny (looking)" or " Dad just fart" ...and then .... I just might have to get out MY handbag!!!!
Comments
I can't disagree with anything you've said, Marie.
I would like to add though that it would be nice if people remembered to volunteer at the soup kitchens and homeless shelters (or no-kill shelters), hospitals and old folk's homes year 'round.
I suppose that's my pet peeve with the holiday season. Why can we not sustain our charity towards others every month of the year?
You and your friend are very generous, indeed. I'm sure that poor man with the dying son will be overwhelmed at your kind and selfless gestures.
I like your thoughts on giving back. As Stephan gets older I really want to make that a bigger a part of Christmas than the gifts and retail chaos. He's too small to help out at a shelter or understand the idea of donating some of his old toys since he's getting new ones, but he's getting there.
Crazy how nuts people are this time of year. It's like the water gets laced with drama.
Oh Caprica...Amen Amen AMEN!!! Soooo true!! We should sustain our charity to others EVERYDAY of the year, not just over the holidays!! What a better world it would be if people would just give back, even a little, to help the less fortunate. I like to think I do my part all year long, but for me...it's partly selfish...I get as much from "the giving" as the receiver gets from getting. And I am so grateful, watching my daughters, as they grow older, developing that same feeling/belief. Thank you so much for your comment!
Teaching our children, as they grow, the importance of helping others is a huge step in making this world a better place. Stephan is lucky to have a Mom with such a good heart. (hugs)
And your comment about your gang and the paper bags, I can just imagine what messages my gang would have!
Isn't that so true though..when you give, the feeling you get back means more than any gift you could ever receive. I guess it's like you said "The gift of love is always the best!"
I had to giggle about the messages your gang would have. My crew are just a bunch of goofballs who love to ham it up all the time - husband included! Sounds like yours are as well..but I guess we'll have to keep them. lol
Wow. Bless your heart. You are a Christmas angel to that family and your kindness and generosity will stay in their hearts forever.
Aww stevie..thanks! I can't imagine how difficult it must be for the Dad, wanting so badly to be with his son, but having to work to keep his bills up to date. Giving him a month without a mortgage payment so he could be with his son, was the least I could.
(hugs)
I love it.
Very nicely done.
I volunteer with the local crisis hotline. I "worked" Thanksgiving day for a 4 hour shift, and I'm doing it again on Christmas day, that is my gift to myself.
My Mother in Law is angry and annoyed with me, mostly because it means that she (because my husband will weasle his way out of it) will have to watch my children when they go to her parents on Christmas day. I'll be going there too, just later, after my shift on the phone.
But I'll take her (and her family's) animosity over someone giving into their pain and despair because the phone wasn't covered during that time. I'm giving my own family, my husband and children time Christmas morning, and we'll be together the rest of the evening. But for 4 hours I'm going to do my best to be a lifeline to someone hurting and alone on Christmas Day.
I went out and bought some toys for the local humane society. We have to help the humans, but animals also deserve a little something extra, especially if they don't get a home for Christmas.
This is such a lovely post. I think it should be featured. I'm back to favourite it.
You know, Marie (and others here that have shared how they share of themselves) I do think we all lead by example. I've tried to do so my whole life and I have my mother to thank.
My mum was an ophan back in the days when the ony charities were church-led. The Salvation Army helped to clothe her and sometimes was the only thing between her and going hungry for days. She never forgot their kindness and from a very young age she instilled in me the absolute necessity that we help one another.
Many of us are not wealthy but there are ways to give. The budget is tight this Christmas and since my birthday is so close and let's be honest, we do like to be remembered, I asked that my spouse pool my gift into two tickets to a group caroling event--we and hundreds of others will be doing the caroling and the proceeds go to needy area families. I've missed Christmas caroling so this is really a gift to myself just as much as the tickets we bought/donation we made.
It really can be a win/win situation when you give to those less fortunate.
Merry Christmas, Marie!
Aww thanks stevie..you are such a sweetheart to say that!
My handbag might not have a brick in it..but it's heavy enough anyways.. that's for sure..lol.
I think giving to the humane society is a wonderful idea!! Sweet innocent little animals....every time I go there I want to take the whole lot of them home..lol
Aww Caprica..thanks!!
Sounds like your Mom had some difficult times in her life, so no doubt she understands all to well the importance of giving.
My next door neighbour (and good friend) is a Salvation Army Officer. I have seen this man leave his home in the middle of the night to go help someone in need. I have watched him give food from his own table to help a hungry family. Whenever there is a fire (my husband is a firefighter) my neighbour and his helpers show up with coffee/tea/ sandwiches to help keep the firefighters warm and alert. They could be there for hours and hours, depending on the fire, but it doesn't matter, they still stay and offer their support.
My small gestures of giving mean little in comparison to the wonderful work he does in our community. He truly is a hero in my eyes. Getting to know him has been a gift to my family, he has made us all much better people.
Merry Christmas Caprica! And thanks for sharing a part of yourself
ps. Christmas caroling sounds wonderful.
Sounds to me like some people need to revisit the reason for the season. Selfishness is definitely not a reason. Above all, it's not a hand out, it's a hand up. Give someone a taste of hope and you benefit as much from it as they do. That is also why I love our local radio station.
They do a Hope for the Holidays promotion every year. They get calls, letters, emails all from people who are having a tough go of it. Some from people in need, some from friends of people in need. Then they call them up and talk about the situation on air. People then call in with donations to fulfill what they need. Whether it is gift cards to stores for coats, cash for bills, food for Christmas dinner or toys for the kids.
Much like a local telethon, the money is raised and there are always people jam packed on the phone lines calling to help out. Truly awesome. My eyes leak profusely every time I hear it.
Yep---this is what I can't stand about Christmas. And it's being shoved down our throats earlier and earlier. I've been trying to ease the pain for the last few years by 1) online shopping for my niece & nephews (nowhere I'd like to be LESS than a toy store this time of year) 2) gift cards for my sisters & BILs and maybe mom and 3) donating more. I now give everyone in the family a gift as well as an Oxfam donation on their behalf.
What a nice thing to do for the family, you & your friend paying their mortgage so they can relax a little over the stressful enough holidays. It seems as if more and more people are getting fed up with the commercialism of Christmas but it hasn't seemed to make a big enough impact yet, as seen in the Walmart stampedes, etc. Hopefully things will turn aruond soon. I don't want to hate Christmas for the rest of my life! ;-) I am lucky though, my family is pretty low-key (and small).
I only have one thing to say though. If you clean out your closets, toy box, cupboards...etc.
Make sure you only donate CLEAN usable items. People in need don't need junk they need your GOOD stuff.
Christmas is what we make it! I really like your "oxfam donation on their behalf" idea.
Nice seeing you here...Merry Christmas!
True!! Thanks for pointing that out Karyn! :-)
Merry Christmas!
Great post! I think I'll try the paper bag idea with my family this year!
It's very heartwrenching to listen to people air their problems live on the radio. You are sitting there thinking of your problems, then one of them comes on and all of a sudden, your problems are about >.< that small...
Very humbling to hear people who only wish they could pay their electric bill and get their kids a toy and a coat. Even more so to hear people who are complete strangers clog the phonelines wanting to help. Getting verklempt just thinking about it...
Your comments are so true and very sad. I try not to go out shopping this time of year as it brings out the worst in people...instead of the best!
My Christmas has gottne very simple, I send out a few cards, buy a few presents. I used to get presents for everyone but stopped that a few years back so Christmas isn't as stressful for me any more. I believe that Christmas is for the children and spend mos tof my Christmas money on my grandchildren. I only wish they lived closer so I could spend more time with them.
I'd love to know how it works out Amy Sue
Thanks for your comment and Merry Christmas!
It's tough living away from family..our family are many miles away from us as well. It's just my husband and children here, so I know how you feel wanting to be closer to your grandchildren.
(hugs) and Merry Christmas!
Thanks grantalias! True words indeed!
Merry Christmas
Yes, it is hard this time of year...my daughter lives about 100 miles away but she has her in-laws every Christmas. My son is about 500 miles away, west of Las Vegas. They both came for Thanksgiving and it was wonderful. I would love to live closer but I don't like the heat in Phoenix and my son's in a very dry, hot, barren part of NV and I don't think I would like living there either and I can't get them to move here. Maybe when they are older they might move here.
Take care and enjoy your children this wonderous holiday season.