Comments on: A Different Christmas

By: Youreyes

Youreyes — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:35:52 +0000

Kurt, excellent story about Wendy’s, I have heard of people doing this for others. Regardless of how angry the woman behind you got, she had to do some rethinking after realizing what you were doing for her. Would of loved to be a mouse to see her reaction after finding her order was already paid for by the person she was getting angry with. I hope she realized that getting angry is a choice we make in ourself, regardless of the circumstances.

Christmas, Santa, the American way of commercialism, somehow started walking hand in hand. Does anyone realize why yet? How it happened? We are taught to spend at an early age, we are taught to be selfish at an early age with the commercials and shows that are watched on a daily basis. Take that away from a child and teach them respect, giving, to put heart into what they do. Amazing how it can change a life if you follow simple rules like this. The way I raised my girls with the Santa thing is this, Santa is real, he lives in each of us, that giving with heart to another can bring joy. That the spirit of Christmas lives in each of us. With that I have also taught them that just going out and buying something isn’t giving as much of the heart, its more of I have to do this type attitude. Now what I have taught them is that making gifts, yes handmade items they put there time and energy into for someone is worth more than any gift that is bought. If you look at someone who has aged, like a grandparent, do they have a TV given to them years back, or an ornament made by one of their children that hangs on a tree every year. I can say with heart that the girls are older now and still do this today.

As for the giving to others, they were taught and have seen this on a daily basis. As my girls grew they formed their own idea’s and things that they do. One of my daughters when she see’s a person on the street with a sign saying, “Will work for Food” she goes out of her way and buys them a meal or sandwich from like Burger King, then takes it to them and says “This is for you.” Then she goes on to what she was doing. Would giving like this from each person in the world, make a difference?

I give you hands up on trying to teach your children the gift of giving, it isn’t going to be easy with the way most others believe. Stand tall with your decision and that impression will stay with them through out their life. Its the little moments as they grow you will see you made a difference.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 07:10:30 +0000

That is such a neat idea to pay for the food of unsuspecting people, I might give it a try sometime soon. I like your idea about not buying christmas presents. I myself do not celebrate christmas, as I’m not christian, but solstice and the season. So I don’t buy anything special just because it’s winter time and have never exchanged gifts simply for the sake of it. Even thought I don’t celebrate it, I don’t like the idea of christmas being so commercialized. Isn’t that a sacralige to the people who do? Its suposed to be Jesus’ birthday, not spend all your money on useless presents for people or feel guilty when they give you something day, right? So good choice on raising your children to not be greedy americans who have lost all meaning behind holidays.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:01:51 +0000

I just love it! I have heard about people doing what you did at local StarBucks too. There was even a story about it on the national news! I think if more people were to give when they can to others, the world would be so much better. I am not a Christian, so I felt I should only comment on the part that I could relate to. Thanks!

By: MANOJ T`

MANOJ T` — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:07:45 +0000

A thoroughly enjoyable post. I liked the idea of giving for Christmas. Doens’t Father Christmas give out gifts to people? I am sure he must be enjoying seeing the smiles on people’s faces as he hands out his presents. Yes indeed it is more blessed to give than to receive. If Santa Claus can get so much pleaseure out of giving, the why shoud we deprive ourselves of a similar pleasure. It sure will be fun to give gifts to people wh really need them. It is a great idea. I see my mother doing this all the time. She says one must alwasy give things to the needy an dGod always gives you back much more than you give.

By: dave

dave — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:21:26 +0000

An interesting idea, and certainly food for thought, but you need to be careful how you do it. If it is put forward in a way that seems punitive to the children, they will end up being resentful of being deprived gifts instead of appreciating what giving is about. I think it would be more constructive to do some volunteer work along with your children, so that instead of having it as an abstract concept, they can see firsthand the joy that comes onto someone’s face when someone is helping them. When you do that, when the children can see how their actions are directly helping others and bringing people together, they will be more appreciative of how giving and volunteering can have tangible and meaningful benefits that go far beyond some shiny new toy.

By: Joe He

Joe He — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:55:04 +0000

I am sorry, I did not raise my hand, cause I am sitting in front of my boss in my office. I appreciate the way that you “spent” your money. You brought happy to others as well as to your self. Hope you had a very good Christmas! although it is too late to say so.

By: Efrain

Efrain — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 07:52:07 +0000

I too think that in America Christmas is not remembered for being our saviors day of birth. Children are more interested in what they are getting as a gift that the real meaning of it. Parents should reflect on this and teach their children Christmas is much more than the gifts being given.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:52:53 +0000

This past November, I made the comment to my parents that “we should skip Christmas this year because I am still paying the credit card bills from last Christmas.” I was kind of ashamed of myself later on when I realized what I had said and how I was thinking of the holiday in the terms of the money I had to spend on presents for friends and family. My parents seemed to agree with the notion and together we decided not to exchange gifts. It felt good to get back in touch with the true meaning of Christmas!

By: kurt

kurt — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:20:09 +0000

Jim,

Excellent points. Like I said, Santa is like Elmo, but I never thought of teaching the kids the St. Nick story behind it. This can help reinforce the giving to others for Christmas thinking.

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:12:17 +0000

Great stuff guys… I’m getting to it a bit late.

Kurt, I love the idea behind what you are saying about gift giving. I want to practice this idea throughout the year. You’ve encouraged me to consider more ways we can get the kids involved in giving. As for the Christmas holiday… the gift giving is a part of what makes it special. I don’t think I’ll tamper with that. I don’t see the harm in celebrating the precious holiday that it is with giving each other gifts… and receiving them with thanksgiving to God for every good thing. And as for Santa, we too felt that telling our kids that a fat man in a red suit delivers gifts at Christmas is a lie that we are asking them to believe in faith. I don’t think there’s any way of being prepared to answer my children later on in life on why Santa’s not real but Jesus is. We simply explain that Santa is a symbol of a beautiful man (St. Nick) that lived long ago who had a beautiful heart to give gifts in celebration of Jesus’ birthday. After all, that’s what I know to be true… and I’d hate to miss the blessing of St. Nick’s wonderful gift giving ministry by ruling out the story of Santa entirely.