Friday, December 27, 2013

The Importance of Being Content

It's been an interesting Christmas season in a lot of ways. My family (parents and siblings) are still going through a few things from Christmas, but beyond that particular event of which I will not give details here and now, I've had a lot to think about. It's been a tough financial season for my little family (husband and children). Our work situation isn't what we thought it would be and I now have 2 jobs (one is very, very part-time), and Cory has a job and is seeking a second. We've always worked through school with our kids, so we're no strangers to work. It's fine. We'll be fine. We have faith that the Lord will provide for our needs as long as we remain faithful and keep His commandments (including tithing). And we have been greatly blessed.

You know that scripture in Malachi that talks about paying your tithes and offerings and the windows of heaven will pour down more blessings than you have room to receive? Well, we have seen that. When we couldn't afford it, we were given more food than our kitchen could hold. We have had 4 gallons of milk in our freezer because we didn't have room in the refrigerator. My brother-in-law took Cory salmon fishing and stocked us up on some really delicious salmon. Our neighbors have shared what they have when they could. Aside from food, we have had friends, family, and neighbors give our kids more clothes than we have room for in drawers and closets -- including a few toys too. My children and I have really appreciated it. We drove down to Oregon to visit family for Christmas, and to be able to pay for gas, we weren't able to buy gifts for our kids. We knew that grandmas and grandpas would get the kids some things for Christmas, so we weren't worried about them getting nothing. But it broke my heart that WE couldn't get them anything. They still had plenty to open, thanks to their Aunt Kristy sharing some things she was going to give her kids, and grandma and grandpa's generosity. We're going to get the kids a couple small things at the after-Christmas sales. Olivia will probably just get a couple things to help potty training in a month or so, and we'll get Emerson....something.

Aside from giving in our own family, I was a little saddened by a few things I saw on Facebook both before and after Christmas. There was a lot of "my child wants such-and-such for Christmas -- how do I find this obscure/expensive/popular thing?" Now, I totally understand the desire to give your kids everything they want for Christmas. I understand wanting to see your kids' faces completely light up on Christmas morning. I understand not wanting to disappoint your kids. But there comes a point when enough has to be enough. When you have to say, "It's okay, you really didn't NEED that thing, and look at all the other stuff you got!" I mean, I have heard stories about kids being so disappointed in what they did or didn't get, that Mom and Dad felt the need to go get their kids MORE gifts just to appease the sad children -- or teens. It breaks my heart that we completely lose the meaning of Christmas and WHY we give gifts. It breaks my heart that we can't teach our children to be content with the things they have. Cory and I have decided (a while ago actually) that we aren't doing any Santa gifts beyond what can fit INTO a stocking. All other gifts will be from family and friends. I know that's easy to have ideals while our kids are young, and another to implement them.

One of my greatest desires is to raise my kids to be happy with what they have so that they truly appreciate when others do something kind for them. I know too many people who just expect things to be given to them, and generally, they're not happy people. There's a great deal of joy in being content; in not expecting. It took me a long time to learn to be content. I'm still working on it. And I hope that if I can get there, it will be easier to teach my children and develop that in them.... I hope.