“Crowds? Traffic? Elbows? Absolutely Not, Sweetheart.”
As we enter the Christmas season, like many of you, I’ve already started thinking about who’s getting what. Now let me be clear: Black Friday was a firm no for me. I wasn't about to spend my day bumping, shoving, sidestepping runaway shopping carts, and gritting my teeth hoping I could find that one item one of my grannies wanted. No ma’am, no sir.
Instead, I took the only reasonable route: straight to my recliner and into Amazon Heaven, where if you can think of it, Amazon has it — and Prime will deliver it faster than Santa Claus on an energy drink.
But even with the convenience, one thing I will not be doing this year is purchasing so much that I overwhelm myself — and everyone around me. I gave up that habit long ago. You know the one: wrapping paper flying everywhere, kids tearing gifts open so fast that we spend the next twenty minutes digging through paper piles trying to figure out who got what. Nope. I’ve graduated from that season.
But as I clicked “add to cart,” I made myself a promise: I will not overspend, and I will not be overwhelmed.
Christmas is meant to be joyful, but going into debt to prove something to people who love you anyway? That’s not joy — that’s stress wearing a Santa hat.
And as I drove past those packed parking lots this week, cars lined up from here to next week, it reminded me again:
I am not stepping one foot into those stores. The way my peace is set up? It won’t allow it.
But let me speak to something deeper… as I’ve gotten older, I understand my parents more. One memory I have is of my mama out feverishly shopping on Christmas Eve, because she and Daddy didn’t get paid until that day. And honey, there were a lot of us “Jones’s.”
I cannot imagine the stress she must’ve felt. The wondering: Would the money stretch? Could she buy each of us at least one toy? Would there still be enough left for food on the table?
Let me tell you, exhale…I recognize that was love. Stressful, sacrificial, exhausted love. And it taught me something: Christmas shouldn’t be about breaking yourself to look generous. It should be about giving from a place of peace, not pressure.
I know many people this year are wondering whether they can get their loved ones anything at all. Budgets are tight, inflation is real, and life has been life-ing in every direction. Maybe your stress level is already swinging from the rafters.
So hear me when I say this with all sincerity:
It’s not about how many gifts you give — it’s about the love behind what you give.
A thoughtful gift, even a small one, carries more warmth and beauty than a mountain of presents bought out of pressure or comparison. Christmas was never designed to drain your bank account; it was meant to fill your heart.
Let this be the year we choose purposeful, meaningful giving, not stressful, exhausting spending. I would rather give one intentional gift than five random ones purchased because I felt obligated or because the pile “didn’t look big enough.”
Give from your heart — not from your credit limit.
Let love be the biggest thing you wrap this year.
This season, remember that the very first Christmas gift wasn’t wrapped in shiny paper — it was wrapped in swaddling clothes. It wasn’t expensive — but it was priceless. It wasn’t flashy — but it changed the world. Sometimes the most meaningful gifts come in the simplest forms.
✨ Scripture: Proverbs 15:16 — “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.” A holy reminder that peace is a gift too.
✨ Mama-Wisdom Reflection:
Baby, don’t lose your mind trying to impress people who already love you. Give what you can, do what you can, and keep your joy intact. Christmas gifts come and go, but your peace? That’s a keeper.
