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Celebrating Christmas
by Michelle Alba-Lim, DTM, District Director
Over two billion people celebrate Christmas On Christmas morning, we opened home-
around the world. Unfortunately, for many, made cards that pledged gifts of time, love,
Christmas is synonymous with spending. It’s and kindness. My son promised his sister that
that time of year when credit cards get the most he would stop pulling her hair. Her gift to him
mileage, as millions scramble for presents. I was including his laundry when she did hers.
bought into this mindset for many years. She gifted her younger sister with a promise
to help with math assignments. And so on.
Incredible as it may sound, that was one of
our best Christmases. We each took the time
to discover what was meaningful for the other
person.
This changed in 1995, when I lost a great deal Nowadays, since we live in various parts of
of money bringing Andrew Matthews to the the globe, my family celebrates Christmas in
Philippines. I loved how he drew cartoons while various creative ways. Video calls on Skype.
speaking however, as I painfully discovered, he Long Facebook chats. And yes, Amazon.com
wasn’t popular enough to fill a hotel ballroom. helps.
Being a small business owner, by the time I had
paid the bills, there was barely enough money Likewise, with my closest friends, our most
for food and other necessities. As I succumbed precious gifts are time, care, and support.
to shame, remorse, and guilt for a bad business We care for each other not only during the
decision, I fervently wished that Christmas Christmas holidays, but throughout the year.
would skip that year. Then, a few days before
Christmas, the haunting strains of “Why don’t How will you celebrate Christmas? Buying a
you give love on Christmas Day? Even the bunch of presents is great if you can afford it.
man who has everything would be so happy if Beyond presents, though, strive to discover what
you would bring him love on Christmas Day. your family and friends find truly meaningful.
No greater gift is there than love…” floated on
the air waves and into my consciousness. A If Christmas catches you a bit low on finances,
light bulb went on! We didn’t need money to cheer up. Cliché though it may be, the best
celebrate Christmas. We didn’t need presents things in life are indeed free. Like we did,
bought from a store. All we needed to celebrate discover the pleasure of celebrating Christmas
Christmas was love. with gifts of time, care, and attention. Happy
holidays!
I gathered the kids and explained that I had no
money to buy presents. Instead, I would give Email me at dd@d7toastmasters.org or call/text me
them my love, my time, and my attention. My at 541-530-1038 to let me know what you think,
youngest (then 10 years old) asked if she could or to ask me to sing your favorite Christmas tune
request a gift. Tremulously, I nodded, fearing (WARNING: I can’t carry a tune if my life depended
that she didn’t understand that I had no money. on it.)
The gift she requested was for me to read her
bedtime stories again!
8 Volume 2 Issue 5 - DECEMBER 2015
