So we started this festive season with the focus of giving, rather than receiving. No big present wishlists; a focus on gifts for the kids that encouraged great family time; and a desire to spend more money on those who are really in need, rather than on us having a 'Merry Christmas'.
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Over the past few days I've been looking back over the month to check that I haven't been distracted by sparkly lights and advertising (hard for someone that never watches anything other than CBeebies in real time anymore...and loves the skip forward button for anything that's been recorded on a channel that even does ads). To my surprise/amusement/thankfulness, whilst we've been focused on giving, we seem to have been blessed by others giving to us, in a disproptionate way!
We've had friends doing clear outs, that have invited me round to delve through bags of things before they head to charity shops; I've helped my Dad clear out my Grandma's house, as she's unable to have much in the care home, and is more than happy for family to put to use her decades worth of stuff; we've had random things passed to us that are no longer needed, or are simply things people have received in duplicate....and for all this, we are truly thankful!
I have to confess to two shop purchases, but with mind-boggling discounts. I have at last got a new coat that will keep me warm and dry on the bike, or when pushing the buggy in driving rain (a Berghaus 3-in-1, that firstly had 50% off, and then a further 25% off). And yesterday, whilst popping into a shop for a lightbulb (haven't worked out a way to survive without these!), we saw some kids shoes discounted. I managed to get the next pair of shoes for M....they had been £30 at full price, and everything was discouted to £15....that is apart from the one box I picked out for her, which was only £9! Nothing wrong with them, no apparent reason for the extra discount...weird!!
- a lovely sewing box
- a wet suit
- a four slice toaster
- a barometer
- kids jigsaws and games
- kids clothes
- M's next size up shoes
- a really warm and waterproof coat for me
- a presige hand-whisk
- the next size up car seat
- a blanket box
- a big flour sack storage box.
From all this, we've got things that I've been looking for, for months (in one case, about 3 years!), but haven't got as they've been too expensive, not quite what we wanted, or just seemed like a luxury we could do without.
I love the way it's been the opposite to the normal way the world seems to work...more often than not, people spend far more than they earn....perhaps, we should all try giving, more than we spend, and let God worry about the rest (not with the motivation of getting lots of stuff) in the knowledge that we are blessed, and it's great to bless others.
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