It’s the end of the year. When holiday sales declare “You NEED this and if you don’t buy it now, you’ll pay more later.” The implication being that we’ll pay with far more than money if we miss out on the opportunity to add this item or service to our lives.
But what if my life already feels full? How often do I give in to FOMO and simply end up with a cluttered home and a divided heart? Click To TweetUsually I have a decent cash reserve set aside for Christmas. This year we’re just finally finding our feet after an extended period of unemployment last year. I’m trying to figure out what we can afford, and what we actually want/need.
When I see a new outfit from a favorite company, I find myself weighing the options. Will it be less expensive later? Will it go out of stock? How much do I actually need or want it?
Will the kids like this new toy/book/activity? Do they really need it? Do they already have too much to really appreciate it?
Last year, I bought very little and when Christmas morning came, I was waiting to be disappointed (or at least to see disappointed expressions in the eyes of my children). While we had prepared them for a small scale Christmas, their reactions surprised me.
There were smiles and thank yous. They gushed over the handknitted sweaters I had rushed to complete. They were ecstatic about the snuggly faux fur throws I had bought on sale. No one wondered what else they could have received.
They didn’t see the gaps of what could have been, but the fullness of what we had.
So as I peruse the holiday sales, the already straining holiday budget I’m also trying to have an objective view of gratitude for all that I already have. More isn’t better, sometimes it’s just more, and less can leave white space in our lives for a beauty all its own.
I love this “less can leave white space in our lives for a beauty all its own”, and it’s so very true, if we take the moment to simply breathe and look around to see it.
There will be no pile of presents,
wrapped to shine so very brightly;
there will be no Santa presence,
and there will be no Christmas tree.
There are people in our town
for whom Angel Trees are hope,
and so we need to double down;
for ourselves, well, we can cope.
There is a kid I’ll never meet
who’ll get a bicycle this year;
he asked a lot, and then he beat
the odds, because we saw it clear.
It don’t matter what we receive;
grace is that which we believe.
I love Angel Tree, it’s such a wonderful program.
One of my main love languages is gift giving, so lean years are hard for me ;). But my kids are always happy with whatever we give them–they love the memories and time together more than big-ticket items.
You know gift giving has gotten more important to me as my kids get older. I wonder if it’s the desire to keep them smiling as they approach the sullen teenage years.
Exquisite. Rich. Simple. Unfiltered. All at the same time. thank you…
Thank you! I’m honored by the description.