I posted my thoughts so quickly this morning in that previous post, I’m afraid my thoughts on things seem harsh.  Things are nice.  I love things.  Things make the world a better place; things like kitchen gadgets, pretty home items, and little knick-knacks that remind us of warm places and people.

And you all know I’m a thrift store addict, so if I condemned the act of indulging in buying material things, now wouldn’t that be like the pot calling the kettle black!

It’s just that money’s been tight lately.  For everyone.  Running to the grocery store to purchase a few food items is not a 20-dollar trip anymore.  It’s a 70-dollar trip.  It’s easier than ever for me to ruin my budget by indulging in some new material delight for my home and then lamenting that it’s one more thing I really didn’t need.

I find myself feeling as though pretty bottles of hand soap (even reasonably priced ones) and really good body lotion with all natural ingredients are luxuries, even though in a way they are things we need.  And wholesome foods!  We can always use good food!

So this morning as I cleaned up my home, feeling joyful over seeing family during the holidays, I thought of times past when gifts were exchanged and literally hundreds of dollars worth of material items were passed back and forth in brightly colored paper, opened and then carried home.  It was fun!  It was especially fun for the children!  And I enjoyed it every single time. 

How can I say this politely?  Have you ever given something as a gift and realized as soon as it was opened that you goofed?  Have you ever received something that you knew was probably 40 or more dollars and you knew you’d likely never use it?

This year I want to give simple gifts that can be used up.  I want to give gifts that I know people will be glad they received.  I am not always good at picking out things for other people.  (Oh I’m great at finding things for me!)  But who can ever have too many baskets of good food stuffs with recipes tucked in and a pretty oven mitt to go along?  Or clean pretty jars full of dried beans?  Or Burt’s Bees powders and hand lotions? 

Not I!

Anyway, I just wanted to elaborate a little more on things.

Lynn

If I celebrate this time of year at all, it’s a time of giving.  Trying to get away from too many things, this year I am giving gifts that can be used up, not stored away in a drawer or closet.  Baskets of hand soap, lotions, foods, handmade useful gifts.

The best thing I have received by far this year was a jar of double-chocolate brownie mix.  It was so lovely, all the layers of mix visible in the jar, topped with chocolate chips, and the jar tied off with bright calico fabric and a piece of twine.  Princess of the Universe got a baking lesson from that gift.  It was quite a useful gift and I will always remember it. 

From “The Quiet Little Woman” by Louisa May Alcott:

“Patty’s surprise began early the next day for the first thing she saw upon opening her eyes was a pair of new stockings crammed full of gifts hanging at the foot of her bed and several parcels lying on the table.”

“What a good time she had opening the delightful bundles.  She laughed and cried at the droll things the boys gave and the comfortable and pretty things the elders sent.  Such a happy child was she that when she tried to say her prayers, she couldn’t find words beautiful enough to express her gratitude for so much kindness.”

You’d have to read the story to understand just how much Patty deserved and needed these things. 

It’s a wonderful book for this time of year.  We’ll be reading it again this year.  The Quiet Little Woman.

Enjoy today.
Lynn