Christmas Reflections

One of my favorite Christmas cards this year is a homemade card from one of my relatives. Made from cut construction paper and recycled Christmas wrap with stars creating a night sky, its love and beauty shines through.
It reminded me of times in the past when I did not have lots of money to spend at Christmas, and I too would make cards to send to my friends. Why have I gotten away from those heartfelt times? Now I can afford to go out and buy cards, always looking for a card to somehow reflect what Christmas means to me, this year I found a lovely mermaid placing a starfish on top of a tree, and while the card is cute, I can't help but think, I could have created something much more in line with my current thinking.

I was making granola the other day, adding cranberries to the rolled oats and other goodies I blended together. When I put the mix into glass jars I realize just how pretty this homemade granola looked in the jars, how festive with the red cranberries sprinkled about. Wouldn't this make a nice Christmas gift for someone who would appreciate delicious, healthy homemade goodness. Once again I thought why have I gotten away from giving things that my loved ones could really benefit from, that I had created from my heart? And then came one more idea. It is exactly now, when our economy is crashing, our personal finances seem shaky that we can come back to the time when the simple things really do mean the most. Find ways to give gifts with meaning.
Homemade cards and gifts that reflect our caring, our love and our creativity, given with love and appreciation for those in our lives.
So I will welcome in this coming new year with great appreciation for the simple things in my life because I know that I don't get happiness from the outside of me, with material things, it comes from the inside, where love abides. As I hold my favorite Citrine crystal, it is easy to find the abundance in my life.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas.