Give, Don't Get

by Morgan
(Colorado)

A great Christmas party idea is to give everything up. I know, we're American and to us hearing that makes us want to scream, but hear me out. To some of us, we decided "stuff" meant the world, but there are people in the world who only have what is on their back and have more joy than we can imagine. Many of us will not give up our security items to be "free" from our stuff, but there are things we can do to ignore it. This Christmas, if you work in a homeless shelter, or go help the poor, or just visit your neighbors, you will feel the true meaning of giving. Is that not what we celebrate, the gifts we can give in the holiday season?

Instead of the typical secret Santa, how about throwing a charity party? Have volunteer hour rewards, bake sales with benefits going to Africa, ornament parties but the ornaments benefit an underprivileged child, and when you buy it the money goes straight to their pocket.

I love the bright colored paper as mush as the next guy, but this year why not give up the greed, give up the "I want I need mentality," and by giving up these things give more? It can mean the world, which that new sweater/ car/ game boy won't.