Submitted by David Crane on Fri, 12/26/2008 - 17:12
It’s been a tough holiday season for most. We went out shopping on the weekend before Christmas and the traffic was light and the store’s where not very busy. It paints a bleak picture of today’s economy. Is it possible we all got too caught up in the keeping up with the Jones and taught our kids that getting was more important than giving back.
I remember years back when I was recently divorced out of work and a single parent of 3 children, there was not a gift under the tree. As a parent I felt like a failure. But in the last couple days before Christmas miracles started to happen. I had spent the last 3 months of my life finding my faith and getting my shattered life back together. A higher power delivered to our family more then we could have hoped for. The refrigerator ended up with 2 turkeys and all the fixing’s delivered by strangers. Neighbors and friends tossed in toys and clothes for my children and me. My family sent money that helped with bills. I learned the meaning of giving with no expectations. We feed many hungry friends and strangers that Christmas sharing our good fortune and friendship.
I hope my now grown children remember that each year afterwards we went through their things and passed what they wanted to give to others to those in need. I always think back to that Christmas and remember what it is all about. So on this sobering Christmas give to others, feed the hungry, love your children and teach them it is a time of giving not getting. The economy will improve but we all don’t need so much stuff. The Jones’ don’t leave next door they lost it in a foreclosure due to bad habits.
