Last year my family sat around, dazed, as we opened our Christmas gifts.

At first, the kids were really into it, and tore in with great enthusiasm. Then a strange thing happened… the excitement waned, the piles of torn paper and discarded gift bags grew, and presents were barely glanced at as they were revealed, and set aside.

We had reached critical mass.

For my family, Christmas is not a religious holiday. We consider it a family and friend reconnection time. A time to put aside petty nonsense and day to day bustle, and enjoy being together. In our hearts, we (ok, the adults) realize that it isn’t about presents and “who gave who the best gift”. It shouldn’t be all about money, and trying to stay out of debt while providing what is expected of us. It should really be a focus on family.

So we started talking about how to change things, and at the same time, teach our growing children that it’s a time for giving, not getting. We discussed going away and renting a cabin somewhere, and being very spare with gifts. That sounds great in theory, but in reality, right now we all have dogs, cats, other tiny non-portable pets, and of course, my aged grandmother, who is still hanging in there at 98 years old. She isn’t mobile either, and leaving her behind is not an option. So that option, as wonderful as it sounds, is not feasible this time around, and probably not for a few years.

What we’ve decided to do instead is redirect a portion of our bounty to the less fortunate. My brother and his kids are going to give to the toy drive for less fortunate kids, and my Hubby and kids and I will be adopting a few “Forgotten Seniors” from the rest homes in our area. I’ll also be participating in the Toy Drive with my Quartet and larger group done by one of our sponsors in our town. If you watch Breakfast Television (Toronto) on December 22 from 6-9am EST, you’ll be able to see us performing for the breakfast and toy drive crowd ;)

We hope that our kids realize and learn that giving to others is not a personal sacrifice, but a way to bring joy. Not only to those who receive our gifts, but to our own lives as well. I hope my kids grow up to be the kind of people who never think twice about helping people in need, or giving just to make someone’s day. I know I get the biggest kick out of paying for the people behind me when I go through a Tim Horton’s drive thru. I’m hoping that rubs off on them. It’s fun to give.

I do like it when Santa doesn’t forget to leave me a little somethin’-somethin’ too though.

Hey… I never said I was a saint!