Do tough times teach us the true meaning of the Holidays?

oodlesofpoodles · Dec 3, 2009

So, like many I have been making big plans for the holidays. I am excited to trim the tree, do the shopping, wrap the gifts...But on tuesday the hubby to be was rushed to the hospital. We have just enough money right now to pay rent and get me to work until i get paid again...but when he gets out (Hopefully tomorrow) we will have to get his meds and other things to help him recover. We have decided rent must be paid late (which of course comes with a fee). This throws our already tight budget out of whack, and with all we will need the next few weeks that take priority...we have decided to cancle gift giving. We may each put one thing under the tree of the other...and unfortunately family and friends just get cards and our love. The sad thing is, right before he got sick we were bickering about money and gifts and blah dee blah for the family...And now...it is the least important things. I guess i feel kinda stupid and silly. I mean...i love giving gifts. the shopping and wrapping...all of it. but thats not what it is all about. I guess even I forget that sometimes. We are going to have a tight little Christmas with our tiny tree and home made stockings...and it will probably be the most memorable Christmas of my life.

All I want is for him to get better...And all i ask from my fellow members is to keep him in your thoughts this holiday season.

Do you think it is the tough times that remind us what the TRUE meaning of the holidays is?

Happy Holidays and lots of love

nekomania · Dec 3, 2009

I'm sorry that your hubby is sick and needed to go to the hospital, but perhaps this is a blessing in disguise. Now you will be able to let go off the stressful worries of buying gifts and instead focus on his health and spending quality time with each other.

It's not the greatest thing, but when things go wrong that always seems to be a time when we are reminded of what matters the most in life, not just on the holidays.

Just remember that you aren't stupid or silly, you were just caught up like we all get in the season of shopping and gift giving.

I hope your husband has a complete and good recovery, and that your holiday goes well.

oodlesofpoodles · Dec 3, 2009

Thank you, and you are right. I over stress myself about everything...this was just one more thing to get stressed over. Now my mind is on him getting better and having everything he needs to continue to get his health back on track when he comes home.

There is always next Christmas to give the family gifts

Thank you SO much for your kind words. I hope you and your family have a great holiday too.

larussa · Dec 3, 2009

It is so true that when we or our loved ones have a health problem everything else becomes secondary. I'm sure you care more about taking care of him then worrying about Christmas presents. You can still celebrate as you said and enjoy it more and also be more thankful for what you have. Unfortunately there are so many worse off than us. I hope everything turns out well for your hubby and you enjoy a wonderful holiday season.

jennyr · Dec 3, 2009

I have spent several Christmases of my life occupied with sick people or animals, and they taught me that the Christmas season is about caring, whether you are religious or not. You don't have to give gifts to show that -it is one way but can get too competitive and stressful. Anyone who knows you will understand that you are giving love, and that is all that matters. Good vibes coming for a full recovery and a successful new year.

jack31 · Dec 3, 2009

Hubby lost his job last year right before Thanksgiving. We had to make some big sacrifices if we wanted to stay in our rental, and that meant no real Christmas. It really made us stop and think about what is important, and what was important was being with family and each other.

We are blessed this year that we can buy gifts but we learned a lot this year about what is important, focused less on material things and more on the people around us and time we have together.

Leslie

pushylady · Dec 3, 2009

Sara, I hope you hubby-to-be is better now and comes out of hospital tomorrow. What a scary thing to go through at any time of year.

Asteria · Dec 3, 2009

I'm so sorry about your hubby. . .and I absolutely will keep him (and you, of course) in my thoughts this season.
I think you're completely right. There are a lot of really big problems right now with my mom and me, we're both disabled (though in different ways) and struggling with that, finances (who knows how we'll make it this month?) but the real thing to be thinking of is how lucky we are to love eachother so much after all we've been through together and be grateful for that and so much more, not bitter about the other things.

farleyv · Dec 4, 2009

I think we all "get it". When bad things happen, it jerks us back to what is truly important. Unfortunately, the world has gotten so far afield from what Christmas should be.

Hope all goes well with your husband to be.

snake_lady · Dec 4, 2009

First off, many for your hubbys recovery. I'm so very sorry that this has happened

Personally I try to remain kind and loving throughout the year, but I will say that the holiday season does bring out the best in me

I don't take for granted that my kids will get a lot of things that they want, that me and my family are healthy, that we have a LOT to be thankful for especially in this day and age.

I do think for most people, they are more thoughtful, showing more kindness and care during the holiday season. Which to me is the best part of it.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE giving and like to receive....but the best gifts I've ever gotten were the ones that came from the

. Gifts like coupon books (homemade), cards, crafts made at school...etc. Those are the ones that touch me way more than an expensive gift. It is the thought that counts.

Taking an extra moment to tell a friend you care, to give a hug, to hold a door for a stranger, give a call to a family member.... the little things are what warms the heart the most IMO and you never know what that person might be going through in their lives.

When we're going through a rough patch in our lives, like so many are this year, it definately puts things in perspective and I think the most meaningful Christmases I've had were the ones were I was a poor kids and my gifts consisted of clothing my mom made me

Short answer: YES, I believe being in a rough spot at the holiday season does help put back the TRUE meaning of the holidays.

ldg · Dec 5, 2009

Originally Posted by Nekomania

.....Just remember that you aren't stupid or silly, you were just caught up like we all get in the season of shopping and gift giving.

I hope your husband has a complete and good recovery, and that your holiday goes well.

Exactly.

Originally Posted by Snake_Lady

First off, many for your hubbys recovery. I'm so very sorry that this has happened

Personally I try to remain kind and loving throughout the year, but I will say that the holiday season does bring out the best in me

I don't take for granted that my kids will get a lot of things that they want, that me and my family are healthy, that we have a LOT to be thankful for especially in this day and age.

I do think for most people, they are more thoughtful, showing more kindness and care during the holiday season. Which to me is the best part of it.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE giving and like to receive....but the best gifts I've ever gotten were the ones that came from the

. Gifts like coupon books (homemade), cards, crafts made at school...etc. Those are the ones that touch me way more than an expensive gift. It is the thought that counts.

Taking an extra moment to tell a friend you care, to give a hug, to hold a door for a stranger, give a call to a family member.... the little things are what warms the heart the most IMO and you never know what that person might be going through in their lives.

When we're going through a rough patch in our lives, like so many are this year, it definately puts things in perspective and I think the most meaningful Christmases I've had were the ones were I was a poor kids and my gifts consisted of clothing my mom made me

Short answer: YES, I believe being in a rough spot at the holiday season does help put back the TRUE meaning of the holidays.

I couldn't have put it better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so sorry about DH-to-be.

Hope he's home safe and getting better.

Do tough times teach us the true meaning of the Holidays?

oodlesofpoodles

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nekomania

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oodlesofpoodles

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larussa

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jennyr

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jack31

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pushylady

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Asteria

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farleyv

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snake_lady

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ldg

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