Christmas At The Mall

By Danielle Campbell

This Christmas I am grateful!  I am grateful for the gift of my children. 

They are so joyful, appreciative, fun to be around!  They make me laugh constantly!

This year, when there was an apparent mistake under the Christmas Tree, the boys said "Well apparently Santa Clause is Blonde!" 

They are amazing people, smart, kind, caring, and grounded.

This year, compared to other years, there were limited gifts under the tree.

I was a bit nervous about it, even though I had warned the kids, "this year would be a scaled down Christmas!"

I asked them to write down three gifts they really wanted that were reasonable.  Their lists included, some books, cds, a lacrosse stick, sweatshirts, Maddie my youngest, just wanted a pair of Uggs.

And so as I set out to fulfill their wish list, determined to stick to a budget that was far less than any other year before, I felt a slight sense of relief.

Because of the limited budget there would be less gifts to purchase and finance. 

Less gifts to lug in and out of cars and basements and attics. Less gifts to wrap and and worry over. Less gift to put away and stuff into already crowded drawers, and closets.

And yet as I stuck to my planned budget----the nagging old familiar feeling of--"Oh it's Christmas I better get a few more gifts!"-- kept surfacing!

Each time, I refused to give in to the "over buying". I shook off the thought and stuck to my task! But  it kept resurfacing---that nagging "buy more! buy more!" chant became more perverse!   The crowded over heated stores, the blaring Christmas Music and the unbelievable tantalizing bargains, began to takes its toll on me. 

It circled around me--I had no where to turn--it made me dizzy and knocked me off my determined path! I thought, regroup, Starbucks would help--but while waiting on a line with many many other weary shoppers--I noticed the cute little mugs for sale and "oh hey they have gift cards!"  I dashed from the line ---trying to escape the inevitable, maybe I'll circle back and find the pretzel line shorter.  I was sweating and woozey and thrown into a panic.  I passed another store with promises of perfect gift giving and it was too much for me.  I started grabbing more of this and more of that and I made myself feel good because everything was half off, buy one get one free!   I felt calm again as I waited on line with my pile of "stuff."

And then somehow,  I came to my senses.  I think it was the glow in the dark boxers with elfs all over it that brought me back!   They were there with other glow in the dark choices, on a stand, ready for the grabbing while customers waited on line.  I kept staring at them and thinking----"how silly, --how fun--who would like those--I must have those, get them! get them! get them!"   As I reached to grab a few pairs, the load I was carrying slipped from my grip--and all of it hit the floor.  As I looked at the pile of "how silly--how fun" perfect gift giving, I shook my head.

I picked it all up and put it back where it belonged.

Christmas morning--came and gifts were open----each gift graciously accepted and much appreciation shown.  Much to my amazment, my kids didn't say a word. They were thrilled and perfectly happy with their Christmas gifts!   It was then I received my Christmas gift-------I truly learned and lived---- "Less Is More!"

Comments

[SUSAN L.RUDNICK]

DANIELLE:OUR CHANNUKAH CELEBRATION THIS YEAR WAS ALSO SCALED BACK (AS FAR AS THE STORE BOUGHT PRESENTS WERE CONCERNED).IN THE TRUE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON MY TWO REMAINING AT HOME CHILDREN RECEIVED MY TIME INSTEAD OF MY SALARY BOUGHT GIFTS.WE HAD NUMEROUS FAMILY DINNERS @ HOME;AND LIT OUR MENORAH TOGETHER EVERY NIGHT FOR EIGHT DAYS.WE EXCHANGED ONE GIFT EACH ON THE FIRST NIGHT ,AND IT WAS PEACEFUL AND WONDERFUL.WE ENJOYED PLAYING BACKGAMMON AND SAT AROUND THE DINING ROOM TABLE TALKING .ITS AMAZING WHEN THERE'S ONLY ONE GIFT TO BUY THAT ONE REALLY THINKS ABOUT THE PERSON YOU'RE BUYING IT FOR.I TRULY LOOK FORWARD TO MORE HOLIDAYS LIKE THIS ONE FOR MANY MORE YEARS TO COME.SUSAN L.RUDNICK

[mdk]

Where's my gift? Sorry, giving is more important than receiving, as my mother taught me! Wishing you the happiest of holidays with those that mean the world to you!!
Have a safe and Happy new Year!
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