Christmas

“’Maybe Christmas,’ he thought, ‘doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.’” Dr. Seuss

For the first time ever – yes, ever, as in my entire adult life – I am ready for Christmas with a few days to spare. The gifts are all wrapped; the decorations are up; the tree is trimmed; the cards have been sent; and, all the out-of-state shipping is done. I have nothing left to do this Christmas except celebrate the season, and I am very excited about that!

Last year Mr. Clark was out of work during the holidays, so things were rather grim at our house. There were no gifts and it was hard not to let fear and worry dominate our attempts at holiday cheer. This year, however, thanks to Mr. Clark’s new found, most excellent employment, good times have returned and the spirit of Christmas is alive and well in our home once more.

And because of the lessons it taught us. Prior to the unemployment, we were spendthrifts who all too often whipped out a credit card to buy something we didn’t really need. Prior to the unemployment we took even our most basic blessings for granted – our house, our cars, the funds to put food on the table and pay the bills, our health, and our health insurance.

Now, having done without some of those things, and watched all of them in peril for what seemed like a very long 15 months, I can say we are much more in touch with how well-blessed we remain, and how lucky we are in so many ways. Those times made us more humble, more generous, more empathetic and a little kinder because we now understand, from a first hand perspective, what it feels like to have your hiney hanging so far out in the wind that you’re not sure recovery is even a possibility.

We are, obviously, not alone in our trials and tribulations.

The recession remains a huge reality and major problem for so many; unemployment is slated to continue to increase on into the New Year; and, foreclosures continue to rise. For some - in fact so many - this will be a difficult season in which to muster any cheer. And, my heart, and thoughts, and prayers continue to go out to those folks, as hard times may build character, but also make for some pretty bleak and difficult days and nights.

All I can say is “Hang in there! Better times may well be on the way. Stay strong! Persevere. Believe. Have faith! When you think you can’t go a single step further, keep on keepin’ on…Your hard times may be over soon. Prosperity may, once again, reign and you, too, may well be able to buy Christmas gifts again next year.”

I think one of the reasons this holiday season has been such a calm one for me – and, one of the reasons I’m ready for Christmas several days in advance – is that the time of unemployment clarified what really matters. Family matters; gifts do not. Gathering together matters; having an immaculately decorated house does not. Health and love matter; filling elegantly wrapped boxes with things no one really needs does not.

Thank God for this recession, because it gave us clarity we would not have gained without it. At work I hear coworkers talking much more animatedly than I remember in the past, about finding the perfect gift on sale, paring down their wish lists to what really matters, and not using credit cards to pay for Christmas. In stores I see families seeming to enjoy shopping together more, because they are buying less and having to choose more carefully.

And, in my own family, we are more in touch with how valuable it is to simply be able to be together, all still healthy, for yet one more year…The gifts, while under the tree again this year, are an after thought – well appreciated, but simple – and all paid for with cash.

So, in a weird way, thank you, recession, for getting our collective priorities back in line. And, in the words of the ever-in-touch-with-what-really-matters Tiny Tim, “God bless us everyone!”