Christmas is Coming

After my last comment about throwing in the towel because of gift giving, I did want to tell you what we do for Christmas with our family. My side of the family has always drawn names and then used to get a gift for that person. Well, a couple years ago I was feeling like it was really turning materialistic rather then expressing the joy of what Christmas actually means. I emailed my family and proposed giving to a charity instead of to each other. None of us “need” anything anyway, when so many others are desperate just to survive. So after discussion, we came up with the annual Moorse Christmas gift giving.

We still draw names. Whomever’s name you get, you give them a simple, very inexpensive (no more then $5) gesture of a gift. Maybe a small candle, maybe something funny(which is quite popular with my family). Just something small the person can unwrap. Along with that, each of us chooses a charity and gives whatever amount they are able to that charity. After unwrapping the small gift, we then each describe the charity that we have chosen. We do not have to disclose how much we have given to the charity. At the end of our gift giving we have all learned about different charities and have spent time thinking about others in need, rather then ourselves.

This year, for our immediate family-our children and their spouses- I am going to once again propose something new. There is an organization called KIVA that gives microloans to people around the world. You can go on their website, KIVA.org and read stories of people wanting to start businesses in Africa or India or wherever. You can then choose someone you want to help and donate your money to them. (go to the website to find out more)

My proposal is that instead of exchanging gifts, we will each put in some money and pick out an entrepreneur to help on KIVA. The great thing about this microloan organization is that once it is paid back, you either get your money back or can re-loan it to someone else. Just think if every Christmas we added more money to the loan. How many people could we help in 10 years? Quite a few I would say.

One last option we are exploring with Bob’s family. Instead of gifts, we draw names and whomever you get, we would actually do something for or with that person. Maybe spend an afternoon chatting and going for coffee. Maybe helping fix a computer, mow the lawn or going to Feed my Starving Children together. The sky is the limit.

Just some options to think about with Christmas only 3 months away....