 Christmas Conversation #1: How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Christmas shopping? Maybe it’s just me and this is a horrible, awful thing to admit. Maybe you’ll just shake your head at my selfishness and sinfulness when you read this…or maybe you’ll breath a sigh of relief to have someone else admit they struggle with it too. But, in either case, here goes: I confess that when I go Christmas shopping all full of the spirit of giving and eager to find that perfect gift for a loved one, I more often than not come away finding a gazillion perfect gifts for ME instead. And, even more terrible, awful – sometimes I even buy them… for me. Even if I manage to get away with my money still in my pocket, still safely earmarked for little Suzi’s gift, I am not entirely unscathed for I often find an attitude of discontentment has settled on my spirit. So many beautiful things that would make me look so much prettier, or my life so much better…and, sigh, I must do without. Poor me.I think this is why I have never really liked to shop. I know what it does to me. But I’m not sure a complete policy of abstinence is really all that practical when it comes to shopping, especially at this time of year. And though I would like to say I could be all Martha Stewart-like and make all my gifts, even that isn’t a cure-all. I would still find myself in a craft store purchasing supplies – and for an artsy-craftsy kind-a-girl like myself, that’s one of the worst places to either lose control or find myself in utter discontent with my limited budget. So this raises the question: How do YOU keep the spirit of giving in your Christmas shopping? How do you manage to keep a thankful, grateful, generous heart when you are bombarded with materialism, enticing displays, and so many “great sales” to make things so affordable?
We want to hear your thoughts, ideas, suggestions…and you can even share your struggles…you are not alone! Check out our other Christmas Conversations: We have 25 different ”conversations” going online and we’d love to hear your thoughts! See the list below and add your two cents when and where you can, and benefit from the collective think tank as you go!
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Christmas Conversation #1: How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Christmas shopping?
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Written by: Stacey Tuttle
Tags: Christmas, gifts, giving, holiday, Martha Stewart, shopping, Stacey Tuttle
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Thanks for getting this conversation started, Stacey! I think one of the things that helps me focus on generosity during the Christmas season is working hard to have an attitude of generosity the rest of the year. I’ve noticed that years when generosity has been more of an ongoing habit throughout the year, I find generosity easier to embrace at Christmas. Conversely, in years when generosity hasn’t been so much of a priority I find I can easily get irritated by buying gifts and spending money on others..even on people I love to shower with gifts!
I actually love to find fun and useful stuff for people – espcially my family. I have to admit that I enjoyed it more when we had more money. It was so much easier and fun. I’m so picky though, that sometimes I’d rather not have some people try to buy me something, because it seems like they always dissapoint me. Isn’t that strange? I guess it’s because I think the other person should know better and should have a better idea of what I like. Stupid thing for me to think I guess. Anyway, it seems easier for me to find stuff for others and it’s especially fun to buy for those who are always thankful and joyful about their gifts. I love to watch and see the look on someone’s face when I think I’ve found something just perfect.
I can’t wait to watch our kids open their presents!
Anyway, I don’t see it as a job, but a way to bless someone else. I also enjoy giving stuff to my youngest sister and her little boys. She had been through many tough times and I like to share with them whenever I can. I think it helps me feel more joyful when I can give something that I think will be useful or bring happiness to them.
I find it especially hard to buy for family members that haven’t been really kind to me all year. My family seems to have a lot of hurt feelings and baggage, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. But that is where sacrificial giving really comes in for me. It’s not sacrificial because I don’t have the money. It’s sacrificial, because I don’t really like these people for the moment. I have to put my bitter ways aside, and love someone , think of someone and what they would like, anyway. It’s not about me or the present I give. It’s about forgiveness and healing. Which is what Christmas should be anyway. (Not that it always works. Even now as I write this, my hurt comes to the surface.)
I feel that most of us think about giving only when the calendar reminds us. The spirit of giving should not be prompted by calendar events, but should be who you are in Christ. We should give because we have the spirit of Christ in us and that is what motivates us. Nothing wrong with giving during Thanksgiving or Christmas, but those times of giving should only be an extension of our life of giving. To add to this, giving can be done other than at the shopping mall—try to see other opportunities to give. Even if you think about giving when you shop, do you really have the spirit of giving? I think it has to be a life long process of giving to have a real spirit of giving, not just when prompted by the calendar.
Eddie
It might sound backwards, but the eaisest way for me to keep the giving spirit in Christmas shopping it to avoid “shopping”. I am more of a getter. The least amount of time that i can spend at the store, outlet, or mall the better. To much “self” involved with the mall and then the spirit is ruined by the guy who graciously takes the parking spot that i was waiting for, or pushing the way through the line. I do my “shopping” online and if i can not get it there, then at least i have a better idea of where to “get” the things I need to get. In and out in 15 minutes or less.
We shop all year long! OK, well, at least we try
On years we actually do this everything is so much easier. We have time to think about what a person would really like to have instead of rushing out to “find something”….which all too often turns into finding “anything” :-{ I purchased a fantastic gift that my son is going to love three months ago — something I would never have run across in the buying season rush (now I just need to remember where I hid it!)
This approach also helps with the budget. Spending small amounts throughout the year does not put a crunch on December. Plus we often find great items on sale when looking for gifts year-round.
For my wife and I, we quit giving traditional presents to each other. No more anxiety trying to find just the right thing. Gone is worrying about disappointing or being disappointed. All of the things we know shouldn’t be there, but that manage to pop their ugly heads anyway. Instead, we give each other stockings stuffed with love. It is fun shopping around for the little special things to fill a stocking with…trying to surprise each other with this or that unusual treat or small item. It really helps keep things in perspective. It is not about giving or getting “the” perfect gift.
Yes, shopping all year is quite helpful. Then I get something when I see the “perfect” gift.
About 7 years ago I was driving down a street in Denver, the day after Christmas and it was trash day. I slowed down to take a good look at all the trash lining the streets…TV boxes, tons of cardboard from new games and large pieces of furniture, perfectly good gift bags sitting upright on the curb. I couldn’t believe it. It was like Mount Crumpit all over Denver! And a percentage of those people will rush back to the store the next day and stand in line to return what they unwrapped the day before! What sense was this? I thought to myself, people rush into the stores to spend money they don’t have for people who really don’t have a great need, most of the time anyway. I recalled the times I had done the same thing. And every year it gets repeated. Not next year. I’m getting off this bus! Since then, we decided as a family not to buy gifts for each other. The first year we gave our kids money. Their eyes lit up until we told them their mission was to prayerfully consider who they could help with this money. It had to be done anonymously. One child helped a relative with their electric bill, another sent the money to a family in eastern Colorado whose daughter had been paralyzed in a car accident, and the third divided the money into ten dollar bills and handed it out. In other years, we have purchased cows, chickens, pigs, vitamins, a cart, etc through Heifer International or Compassion International for families overseas who are in desperate need. This year we will anonymously collected our money and see how much “farm” we can buy for the overseas families. Last year, we added back in $10 and under gifts from each person in our family . We play games and the winner picks a gift from the table. Of course, there is the grand rule of gift theft which always adds fun. It has taken loads of stress off everyone. We would never go back. Keeping it simple helps us keep the main thing the main thing, Jesus Christ.
Our family is….. is….. well there isn’t a nice word for what our family is…. actually small works but its not what I was really thinking. The benefit of having a small family, whatever the reason, is that I don’t have to shop for a lot of people I don’t like and spend money I don’t have on them. Wow that sounds harsh but it’s the truth… my truth at least. My shopping is limited to my kiddos and my hubby. I cant think of anything better than that!
It is so refreshing to hear an honest reply. I get discouraged sometimes when it seems all families have it together except ours. We all have those family members who we struggle with.
I don’t view Christmas shopping as something I “have” to do… but instead, it is something I “get” to do… it is such a Blessing. I try my best to honor the Lord in my attitude and how I spend both my time and money throughout the Christmas Season.
I have enjoyed Christmas the fun the smells, the whole focus on getting the kids everything on their list and going overboard and at one time even huge debt for Christmas , when my children were gowing up. I ejoyed watching them open all the stuff, dragging the boxes and rolled in a ball paper to the curb each year. However, now with the economy and being out of work and ill for the past few years, just living has been a day to day struggle. I think now that I am raising a new set of children my goal is to teach them of sacrife, honor,love the true joy of this birth of a baby. I recently heard two stories about gift giving one family stated they each recieved 3 presents , that is wht jesus was presented and that was good for a king to be, then one family did 4 presents 1. a want 2. a need 3. something to wearand 4 something to read.
I know that my children never seemed thankful really tuely thankful. But this new round I hope to be a better teacher.
i enjoy Christmas. the shopping for our son and grandkids. i wish i was able to get my family everything they need. but we do the best we can. its hard not having the money for our older kids, but we keep our focus on the little ones when it comes to gifts.most importantly is the time we share together
[...] How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Cristmas shopping? [...]
[...] How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Cristmas shopping? [...]
[...] How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Cristmas shopping? [...]
[...] How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Cristmas shopping? [...]
[...] How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Cristmas shopping? [...]
[...] How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Cristmas shopping? [...]
[...] How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Cristmas shopping? [...]
[...] How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Cristmas shopping? [...]
[...] How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Cristmas shopping? [...]
[...] How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Cristmas shopping? [...]
[...] How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Cristmas shopping? [...]
[...] How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Cristmas shopping? [...]
[...] How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Cristmas shopping? [...]
[...] How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Cristmas shopping? [...]
[...] How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Cristmas shopping? [...]
I also shop all year! It’s more peaceful and joy-filled cause I can relax and spread out the cost.
[...] How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Cristmas shopping? [...]
[...] How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Cristmas shopping? [...]
[...] How do you keep the spirit of giving in your Cristmas shopping? [...]