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| LOC: Carrying home Christmas baskets from The Salvation Army in 1908. |
Many families today are facing hardships with the rising cost of living. During the holiday season, with Thanksgiving and Christmas, the extra cost of food and gifts may cause stress, anxiety, and depression. This is because of what we see around us and on television. We see people Christmas shopping and buying gifts for a long list of people. We see them making a special dinner menu and buying all sorts of treats to host their family and friends. Seeing what others are doing may tempt some to want to spend money in a way that is not affordable for their own situation.
It is common for those in a financial crisis to receive a much welcome gift of a holiday food basket from charities and churches. They would use this special food to make a Christmas for their families. Setting a pretty table and making a nice meal would bring joy to their hearts as they prayed with great thanks for such a blessing. It is a rare treat to have some luxuries for the dinner table. It helps make the holiday special.
Presents may come from the churches or from extended family members. To ease the financial burden, some might say, "Well Christmas is for children this year. Let's agree not to buy gifts for the adults." In this way, they can still get some things for the little ones, without spending extra money they cannot spare. It is the spreading of love and kindness that helps make Christmas special.
We want to give. It is a blessing to give. Christmas is a special time of spreading cheer and being a blessing to others. But when there is no money to spare, we have to find a way to be at peace with a contented heart, grateful for all the goodness and blessings we do have.
We need to boost morale within our families, especially during these days of living in reduced circumstances. We can "make a Christmas" by reading Scripture, singing carols such as, "O Holy Night" and "The First Noel." We can make popcorn and serve hot chocolate on these cold winter nights. We can save the special treats for Christmas eve and Christmas day so there are wonderful things to look forward to. We can make homemade cards, notes, and little gifts for those of our households to bring a smile of happiness and wonder and joy.
We can do good deeds and little kindnesses to lighten the loads of others and to serve with love and cheer.
All these little acts of living on little money and making the best of one's situation with grace, dignity, and ingenuity will help train us to find joy and peace in serving others and being good stewards of what we have been given.
In good times and bad, in times of wealth or poverty, let us do our very best to make a happy Christmas for the family.
Blessings
Mrs. White
From the Archives -
Remembering the Old Days - Mothers with Christmas Courage.
A Christmas Eve Blessing - To Encourage the Downcast Housewife.
Living within our Means - The Housekeeper's Budget.
Careful Living from the Old Days - Retirement Planning for the Poor.
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"The Wife" - An Inspiring Story
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10 comments:
In reading your post, Mrs. White, I am reminded of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s description of a Christmas where she received simple but precious gifts: a tin cup of her very own, a little white cake, a stick of candy, and a shiny new penny. As for myself, I remember very few gifts I received at Christmas as a child, but I do vividly remember the treat bags we would receive at church at the end of our annual children’s Christmas program. Each one contained an apple, an orange, a handful of nuts still in their shells, and a stick of chewing gum. Of course, the very best gift is the little Lord Jesus who came into our cold dark world as a baby to save us all. God bless you and Merry Christmas to all!
Dear Mrs. White,
I find that so much is dependent on momma's attitude about it all. I tried, when my children were small, to make Christmas about Jesus and shared how he is honored in so many traditions.
Now that my children are grown, they understand reduced circumstances. We hit a deer and had to replace our car the night before Thanksgiving. Today, we had to pay the very high tax and licensing fees.
I've been making Christmas gifts all year, if you count the socks that I've knit for the kids. Everyone will have a handmade gift, and, thanks to picking up some extra substitute teaching work, a store bought gift as well. Nothing big. Nothing extravagant, but something that each needs or desires that fit into my small budget.
My son is contributing a small ham for dinner, and I was given a turkey breast. We'll make some inexpensive side dishes to go with it. It will truly be a feast—hopefully with leftovers for everyone.
I thank you for sharing the up side of depending on God as we live a thrifty and frugal life. He does provide...sometimes in very unexpected ways.
God bless you, and happy Christmas time.
Mrs. Laura Lane
Harvest Lane Cottage
My personal memory of Christmas presents as a child is very similar to Betsybug's. I remember some big presents that my parents must have scrimped and saved for, but I also remember that every year my aunt would buy myself and my sister a cheap selection box of sweets and chocolate bars. It was something that we both looked forward to and, thinking back, it was amazing that she had any time, energy or money to spare sorting presents for anyone else, having 7 children of her own to provide for and a self-employed husband who often did not have work. I hope that you and yours have a very Happy Christmas. X
That reminds me of simple Christmases as a child, after the War, when few people had much to spend. But we made our own gifts and food etc and had a wonderful time.....because in those days there was no social media telling us what we 'needed'.
This, and the photo you used really touches my heart for more than one reason. My parents were Salvation Army ministers when I was a young child (until 3rd grade) and even after they left being ministers, we still attended The Salvation Army church and helped with charities. There were also many years in my family as a child when we required the help of charity as well. My parents lived by the motto of "there's always someone who needs it more" and it's carried with me through adulthood. There's always a way to help even if it's not money.
There are always ways to make Christmas merry and bright for our families even when the budget is tight. Special gifts of love and joy cost nothing to share, and that's where real memories start.
Blessings, Mrs. White!
It seems that Christmas in this country has become far too dependent on things like shopping, cyber Monday "deals", Santa, decorating everything to the max, expensive gifts, lavish meals and parties, and irreverent songs (example: Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer). I believe it is up to us Christians to show a different way of celebrating Christmas to the rest of the secular world. Jesus tells us not to "love the world". Growing up in a deeply Christian Polish family the things I remember were family times, the simple and traditional Christmas Eve supper, and church service where the choir sang beautiful hymns. I certainly don't remember any of the gifts I got, but I do remember those loving family times. We had little or no money and times were tough, but those simple memories are etched in my mind, especially singing Polish Christmas carols with my grandfather as we passed the time before supper. Memories last - Christmas presents and decorations don't.
Merry CHRISTMAS!!! and a very blessed New Year. All the best to you this season and always. Beautiful Christmas. ~d
Yes to this, Mrs. White! And Merry Christmas to your family :) I don't remember many gifts from my childhood, but what I DO remember are the traditions and the fun we had as a family. Those are the cherished memories.
Maybe through times like these, the world will go back to simpler times and traditions. We are already seeing a desire for home and simplicity. Hopefully Christmas will follow.
Have a wonderful Christmas :)
Many blessings to you!
Very beautiful entry, Mrs. White. I missed it somehow.
Hope your Christmas season is a sweet one, ~Amelia
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