Counting blessings..

[monkeytrousers]

I'm not religious but it struck me that today, with all of it's excesses, I not only realised but wanted to think about how lucky me and my family are. The fact that, in the middle of winter we can walk around in t.shirts, that later our bellies will be full beyond comfort and that my DS will have so many toys from so many loving relatives he won't know what to do with them all. There are many people in this country and around the world that won't have any of this, places we've talked about on this site, Niger, Pakistan, Iraq, and many more. It probably sounds a bit pious (or even gloating, that's not what I mean to do though) but I wanted to say it out loud anyway - in this day of excess to remember those who have very little and not from any religious perspective, just a human one. Best wishes everyone. x

Too right, I agree. We're so lucky. Happy Christmas Monkey trousers!

Mt, I was thinking exactly the same earlier. We don't really need this stuff, any of us, do we? I felt guilty too when I thought abvout people without clean water, vaccinations, food, homes. I know exactly what you mean.

Must be something in the air, but I was thinking the same thing last night
Our lives are paradise compared to some.

yes and the best present I brought today was an OXfam toilet for my mum!

THought she might object but she was pleased. She always hates what I buy her but this year I got it right!

This is the second year that we have encouraged the children to put out stockings for Father Christmas. Being Jewish, this is not something I was brought up with, and I don't really feel entirely comfortable with this idea that gifts come out of thin air, just because you wish for them. So into each stocking we put a little package of home-made mince pies (the children helped make them) and each child chose something of their own to put in as well, for FC to take to the children who aren't as lucky as we are, and don't have all the lovely things that we do. Ds put in an unopened packet of crayons, and dd put in a set of pretty socks. In the new year I will take the socks and crayons to the local charity shop - though without the children, as they obviously think that FC took them away himself.

Gift-giving (and receiving! ) is lovely, but think how little we really need most of these things, and how special our day is purely because we have our families and our homes.

Operation Christmas child really helped dd understand how lucky we are,did anyone else fill a shoe box?

I didn't NaS (how ironic - look at the time!) I think I will try to do something next year though, when DS is old enough to understand not only xmas but the concept of being with/without. It did feel a bit obsene today (for me) being so full and I didn't binge as much as I have done in previous years because of it; I'm thinking I'd like to do something a a bit more practicle next year..

I gave DS away (IYSWIM) today and he loved it as did the relatives. I think something has changed within me about xmas thoug and I've grown up a bit re my expactations of it. That said, hope you all had a lovely day..x

all of you..xxxxxx

my goodness me, monkeytrousers you were the wee early bird this morning!

Christmas for me is never much about excess, but about being with my family. So very important especially this year because of dh being away saying goodbye to his father. It is wonderful that he is home now and that we are together. That is what Christmas is about to me. Not the food or presents, but the love of family and togetherness.

In inspiration of this thread, the Yurt visualises bringing comfort and love to all the people of the world, especially the children.