A "World Vision" Christmas

Every year I struggle with "Christmas" and what it really means versus all the hype, commercialism and expectations it brings. I LOVE that it brings my family together and I LOVE how generous people become (did you hear the story of the Starbucks Drive-Thru in the U.S. where customers were buying coffee for the people behind them??? This went on for 2 HOURS!). I LOVE the excitement in the air and I LOVE the smell of a pine tree filling the house as we put decorations on it. However, when it comes to buying gifts for people who already have everything (love, health, prosperity, not to mention the 'material' possessions) I find it really difficult to consciously think of something they might want or need. I'm the kind of person who, at any given moment throughout the year, will see something that I absolutely have to get for a friend or family member because it's just so 'them'. I'll give it to them right away because it makes me so happy! (It's all about the 'immediate gratification'...)

THIS year I've discovered something that I think is just BRILLIANT! World Vision has a Gift Catalogue in which you can give a life-changing gift in the name of your friend or family member to a child or family in need anywhere in the world. For example, you can provide a Goat to a family in Malawi which will nourish them with fresh milk, cheese, yogurt, etc. There's hundreds of gifts you can choose from!!! If you have difficulty trying to think of what to get for that 'person who has everything', check out www.worldvision.org! It's BRILLIANT!