Every Christmas it seems I blurt out the same cheesy line, “carry Christmas in your heart all year-long!” … Then I scowl when I see Christmas everywhere in the stores in October.
Don’t try to understand – girls are crazy.
It’s so true, though. By starting the Christmas craze before Halloween, we are sending a message to the commercial world that it’s OK – even welcomed – to be spending more money on ourselves.
It’s so easy to do … You’re just picking up one or two things from that Christmas stop. It’s just little things – for the kids, the house, the tree, the seventh party in your busy schedule – but here’s the thing: Those little things add up and at the end of the day that’s exactly what they are! Things!
Imagine all the good you could do with all the money you spend on those little things between now (at the beginning of November) to the end of the month.
There are local families who struggle, kids with nothing, food pantries going bare, churches with huge hearts and not enough funds … that homeless veteran passing through town.
I’m not asking you to not love Christmas – I’m asking you to love people more.
By all means, sing that carol and put up your tree, but to embrace Christmas and its true meaning is to be thinking of others. Please put your budget into perspective this time of year because it is so tempting to buy things as soon as the stores put it all out there.
It’s Nov. 7 … but Merry Christmas. Thank you, Carthage, for always showing God’s love through generosity and compassion for those in need.
Rebecca Haines is a contributor to The Carthage Press.
