Advent and Shopping

Advent time is the time prior to Christmas that we people now take as a shopping frenzy time. It was a time for prayer and reflection early on. I much prefer the prayer and reflection. We are so blessed to have done to us what God did.

I tried to explain to a therapy assistant the reason they were so unhappy with the occasion. Or at least they sounded like it was just another day to wrap up stay warm and watch t v.

We have lost so much of our background of what the holiday events mean. Not just this event but almost all events.

The Sister's used to have us think about a different event each day and what the difference is with and without Jesus. We also used to have to show what it meant to us to have this event happen for us.

Today, children think Santa Claus is the reason. He is the affect not reason.
He was brought forward to reach all, of all nations and unite us in giving and caring for others. The same Message that Jesus asks us to do. Many countries have different names for Santa Claus but they have the same affect whether it is the 6 th of Dec or the 25 of December. Whether it was in England, Italy, Portugal, France, Russia, Ireland or South America or North America.

One may expect a lump of coal if not as good as one could be, or sticks and ashes in other cultures, some times the presents were in stockings or shoes or boots.

Stockings became the thing of our day. Sad to say the stockings of today are huge and out of context with the true meanings of Christmas.

So we shop for: material things, and we forgot the things of the soul, the very things we need so much to help us during this trying time. Surprisingly, many attend the church services in droves. So down deep they believe or accept that this is what we are to do. But o like the camel trying to pass through the eye of a needle we forget we are in the Season of Giving.

We should give, not so much of our funds but of ourselves to assist othere less forunate than us. IF one looks around there is always someone more in need than one's self.

Our children and grandchildren seldom understand the feeling that comes from helping someone more in need than ourselves.

That developed a duel list for shopping in our home.

A list of I NEED and I WANT, and to know the difference.
To always remember someone less fortunate than you so that you retain the true meaning of Christmas.

One Xmas our children all needed shoes at Xmas. That is a horrid expense at that time.
But each child got their shoes and one want item on the list. We were thankful for that. We had food on our table, a small tree in the family room and each other to share with. I will share that the want item was slippers and so the shoe store was the only place we shopped. Santa was able to bring a game for the family to share for everyone. We Christmas caroled with neighbors and had cookies and cocoa.
I still remember it as a more true Christmas we celebrated.

We tried to keep large financial items to Birthdays when we were only financially dealing with one or two birthdays.

I would love to see families forget the I wants and discuss the real I Needs and then set out to spend the other on the ones in truly need.

We were very impressed with the Parade Magazine article that 25 cents could water a
person for a year in another country that seldom had clean drinking water.
The power of one, I believe in. If we gave one dollar of ourselves to those less fortunate on a monthly basis think of how many we could help.

Can you imagine how many soda's you've bought or taco's or hamburgers you have eaten that would have helped others. I do not mean not to eat but give up one item at least once a month give that to a group that does true humanitarian work.

We forget how little it takes to help others while we keep reaching for more for ourselves.

Blessed Christmas to all and enjoy the shopping while you ponder the real meaning of the Season.