Joy in Christmas Renewed

Last night we bought a potted Christmas Tree from Home Depot after driving all around our neighborhood visiting the various tree farms looking for one. I thought, what better time to teach my son about helping protecting Mother Earth than buy a tree we could plant in our yard after Christmas.

At this time of the year I tend to become more introspective and like the sun that stays out of the peak of the sky, I feel that my life coasts a little closer to middle ground. I enter the winter of my soul, a time for reflection, hibernation of my normal hyper activity, and a time to curl up with family by the fire place and just be a human BEing not a human DOing.

Christmas isn't my favorite Holiday. Partly because of my role as Advocate for Financial Health, I have a tough time watching the shop till you drop media inundating my brain space and everyone else's. Americans already have a negative savings rate and Christmas makes many go even deeper in the red.

Yesterday my thoughts shifted a bit. My son said to me, "Mommy, Christmas is my favorite time of the year." With all the enthusiasm a 5 year has. I asked why - assuming it was because of the presents he receives from Santa. He responded "Because it is all about the SPIRIT." My eyes lit up brighter than the fire we were nestled next to and I gave him a big hug and kiss and said YES! Then I repeated various thought morsels all night. Christmas is kindness. Christmas is the love in your heart. Christmas is joyful times with friends and family. By the end of the night my excitement about Christmas was renewed.

We spent the rest of the night making homemade Christmas decorations, including stringing popcorn and making paper chains. We hung the 8 wood ornaments that he painted a few weeks ago on our little potted tree and my husband and I smiled at our little angel who sees the beauty in this special Holiday beyond the materialism.