Advice on Christmas Gift Giving

Now that Halloween is over, I have noticed the catalogs starting to arrive, though we are only a couple of days into November. Already the stores have begun to change their displays and create a Christmas Wonderland with little attention to Thanksgiving. Christmas seems to have turned into a money making holiday and we are left to wonder where the true nature of the season has gone. Have we forgotten the meaning of Christmas?

The Christmas holiday is the season of giving, not receiving. By way of giving, during the Christmas season everyone should be thinking of ways to give to friends, family, and community. Not only should you be giving to family and friends to celebrate your love for them, but also to the community by donating to the local food pantry, serving at a homeless shelter, or spending time in a nursing home with the elderly. There are countless other ways to be giving to the community, whether you have the time or not, you just need to do some research and creative thinking.

Your gift does not necessarily have to be a gift wrapped item. You can give the gift of your time or you can donate a used item. You could also make a dinner or a batch of cookies for someone in need. A gift is really what comes from the heart, not the checkbook. So take care in your purchases and think more in terms of what a person might need rather than what you think they might want. This goes for family and friends, as well as, the community.

Spend more time with others celebrating and less time at the stores shopping. Keep the meaning of Christmas alive by giving rather than receiving.