Holiday Shutdowns

Here comes an extremely honest post. And one that most probably wouldn't expect. In case you don't know or haven't realized it ever, my family is a paycheck to paycheck household. And most times we are left with more month to go at the end of our paycheck. The economy right now is in the crapper. I really feel that we are going into a depression, perhaps greater than the Great Depression. Rob's employer is shutting down for three weeks this holiday season, at least that the plan as of today. As you can imagine living paycheck to paycheck, this is going to seriously hurt our family. The only saving grace is that it happens to be one of the busiest times at my work and I will be able to at least put food on our table during those weeks and keep the heat and lights on.

I had about a week ago typed out a post that I never posted. It was about Christmas and the economy and this year spending Christmas together with those you love, instead of buying gifts that aren't truly needed and feeling some obligation to buy for others when really you can't provide for your own family. I didn't post it. I should have, but I didn't.

There isn't one of my friends or family that can this year really buy gifts for others without putting their own family in a pinch, well really not a pinch, a huge financial bind. I'm asking that my friends and family this year worry about their own family. I won't think that you don't love me or that you have forgotten my family. I want you to think about your family this season and do what's best for them.

For Christmas this year, I want to spend time with my friends and family. Let's have a game night, or a movie night at one of our houses. Let's have dinner together. Let's just spend time together. That's the important part of Christmas, not the gifts. Somewhere along the line we have sold our souls to commericialism. I'm not talking about fancy lights and Santa. I'm talking about the incessant need to be constantly be buying more and more. We have somehow convinced ourselves that Christmas is about giving and getting gifts. And for years, I have bought into the idea, if I just give more and not worry about the getting that's good. But it's not. Not when, to give we forsake our own immediate families needs, like bills being paid, food being put on the table.

Christmas is not about giving and getting gifts. It's about Jesus Christ coming into the world to offer us hope! Let's spread the hope of Christ through the gift of our time together building our relationships.