Forefront Families

Christmas is a time of giving and receiving.  In my early childhood, I know I was only interested in the gifts under the tree with my name on them. I don’t remember going shopping to buy gifts for anyone else until I was in my teens.  When I think about it, it was pretty much all about me, and that, in hindsight, makes me feel rather ashamed.

     Soon after we arrived in the U.S.A, 12 years ago, we unexpectedly found ourselves in dire financial straights.  We faced our first Christmas in a strange country, without any extended family, and no money.  It was the first time ever that we could not afford to buy any gifts for ourselves, or our kids.  What could we do to create some sense of joy for the season?  We decorated a pot-plant we had been given with candy canes and tinsel. We each chose a fun thing we would like to do and we all spent some great quality time together doing them.   We had also been invited to have Christmas lunch with another family, and wanted to take some gifts for them – but had no money.  It was time to think outside the box – literally!  We went to a craft store and bought some glass jars with lids and some Christmas ribbon.  We made chocolate chip cookies and filled the jars.  The recipients were very happy.  We continued with similar gift giving for several years until we were able to recover financially. 

     I must say that it was with reluctance that we resumed our usual Christmas gift giving habits. This is why.  Those first few Christmases in Nashville taught us some very valuable lessons.  The first was that Christmas is not about ‘stuff’.  We actually survived without gifts.  We had a great time appreciating one another instead.  The second lesson was that it was fun thinking up gifts that we could make ourselves, and that our friends would enjoy.  One year we made delicious truffles for everyone and another year I created hand made potpourri bowls, which were very well received.  The third lesson was the stark realization that the celebration of our Lord’s birth has been deeply buried under wrapping paper and credit card debt.  I would not have learned about the pleasure of Christmas without gifts had we not been forced into it by circumstance.