Simple Christmas

Simple Christmas is back by popular demand!

A few years back, I decided to boycott rampant consumerism during the Christmas season and laid out the following guidelines for holiday gift-giving:
1. All gifts had to be hand-made, or
2. Gift were to be recycled (i.e., from a thrift store, garage sale, etc.)

At first there was a general murmuring amongst the troops against my decree, but in the end, Simple Christmas was voted the most meaningful (and debt-free) holiday ever! Each family invested more time, thought and effort into selecting or crafting each gift and spent far less money.

Best of all, there were no long lines to wait in to return unwanted items! (We just recycled them again at Goodwill).

My kids actually decided to invoke Simple Christmas this year. Not just because finances are tight, but because of a growing awareness of the need to live more frugal and thoughtful lives.

Where did we ever get the idea that we need to run ourselves ragged and go into debt to celebrate the One who was born in a stable--and buried in a borrowed tomb?

I can't take credit for the concept of Simple Christmas. He's the One who started it, a long, long time ago . . .