Christ Mass

I have realized lately that I am a bit stuck in things needing to be the way they have always been. Christmas this year is going to be a little different. Money is a little tight in our house with DH being between jobs and the one he is to start soon not being 100% for sure yet. I am starting at Old Navy next week, but that will only help a little. So my family decided not to exchange gifts. DH and I are not getting gifts for each other either. It is taking a bit of a shift in thinking for me to be OK with this, though.
I have need of nothing. In fact, my sister took me on a shopping trip on Saturday and it was like Christmas - I even hardly slept on Friday night and was awake at 6:30 a.m. anticipating the day! So why is it so ingrained in me that Christmas is when gifts need to be exchanged? Why do I think that then it would just be another day?
Which brings me to what is Christmas all about and why do we celebrate it? What is it that we are celebrating? Jesus' birth is the reason for this whole season. I know I am guilty of forgetting that on a regular basis. So, we are trying this year to do some different things to remind me/us of this. Gifts of another kind you could say. And for me it is more about the giving than the receiving. I like to see people's faces when they open gifts that I give them - especially when I have put a lot of thought into it and gotten something that I know they will love. This year it is more intangible things...
We went yesterday to Samaritan's Purse and volunteered for a few hours sorting shoeboxes - making sure that there is nothing in them that will hold things up at customs. It was cool to think that the next person who opened up the boxes would be the child that it was packed for. The next eyes that saw that teddy bear, or pulled out the hair elastics would be the little boy or girl who that one simple shoebox would make their year and sometimes even change their lives. I was humbled and reminded that though I have less money in the bank this year and less gifts under the tree, I have more, far more, in my possession at this time then some of these kids would have in their entire lifetime. All I can say is, wow...
This year my family and small group are adopting two families through a high school for pregnant teens and teen parents. It is something that my family has talked about for years, but we have always ended up doing the same thing - exchanging names. This year we are doing it though. DH and I are not able to contribute as much as I would like, but we are still contributing. I am imagining what these parents (kids themselves, really) will be thinking when they get our hampers and the presents we will get for them. Another wow...
It will certainly be an interesting and unique Christmas this year.