A few years ago when I got back from trip to Tanzania my wife asked me to go get the kids a few gifts at the store. That request set off a emotional response that I was not expecting and I found myself crying in a store staring at all the stuff at was wanted, but not really needed. It was a very different vision than what I had been used to for the last two weeks in Tanzania.
After that Christmas I really thought about what was missing from the holiday, I had no desire for more stuff, I could hardly use all the stuff that I had. Somewhere along the line I realized that, what I desired from Christmas was another Thanksgiving. I wanted my family close and to be thankful for all that I have.
This year my wife and I decided to rethink Christmas. We decided that the kids where not getting gifts this year. That they were getting money. Money that they could donate to causes that they wanted to support. The kids did not complain, they spoke about it at school with their friends and teachers and I am told that some of the kids even said that my wife and I were being mean. But my kids defended our idea and believed that there was a greater need then us getting more stuff. Then one night in late December we decided what groups we wanted to help and it was fun drinking tea and figuring out what we were going to give to Heifer, the Boston Food bank, the Defenders of Wildlife and some of my friends in Tanzania.
On Christmas as my kids opened there stockings of candy (you can not deprive a kid of everything) my son gave the above card to my wife and I think it says it all.
I hope everyone a great 2010. – Eoin