Awe Christmas.
Snow falling gently, Christmas music playing, baking cooling – isn’t it a shame that everyday doesn’t feel like Christmas?
Perhaps your day looks nothing like this idyllic image. Sure Christmas is right around the corner but as a mom, you’re stressed to the max.
To you, December means more pressure, more money, more demands and less time.
How do we change this year’s Christmas season?
Simple. Simply. Simplify.
I remember the year I didn’t make a budget at Christmas. Instead of sitting down, which my husband and I normally did, and make a plan, for some reason we didn’t that year.
Perhaps it was the year our fifth child was born, a good reason, however, when January’s credit card bill came in – my heart sank. Did I really spend that much? On what? Oh it was painful to still be paying for Christmas presents that summer.
“Never again” I said … and I never did.
How much can you afford to spend this Christmas? Make a list of those you need to buy for and how much you have to spend. Mark off those who, couldn’t-care-less-about-you-anyway or you-always-buy-a-gift-for-them-regardless.
Even if you have the money, does your child really need multiple gifts? Is there a way you could teach your kids the “joy of giving”? Is there a child who could really use the “extra” gift you were going to give to yours?
Making wise choices now, is just that – wise.
Bottom line – God is interested in everything we do.
He will help us be creative with our gift giving … if we ask.
He will help us do all things, His way, simply if we ask.
“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you”. James 1:5
“For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it”. Ecclesiastes 7:12
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths”. Proverbs 3:5,6
“Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your concern. No one cares like you. Of course you know exactly what I should do in every circumstance, even down to gift buying. I believe you will help me today to make a plan and make it work. You will instruct me and teach me in the way that I should go (buy): You will guide me with Your eye”. Psalm 32:8
