My Christmas Gift to Everyone I Know

by Irene Daniel

This year I am giving one gift to everyone! That's right. Just one gift for all of my friends and family.

I made a donation to the K.I.N.D. fund, a partnership between Lawrence O'Donnell of MSNBC's Last Word and UNICEF. K.I.N.D. stands for Kids In Need of Desks. The purpose of this fund is to purchase desks for children in Malawi, Africa, who do not presently have one -- at all. I purchased one desk on behalf of everyone that I love. And that is the extent of my Christmas shopping this year. (Except for the Brodylicious one.)

Not only am I broke, disorganized and short on time and other resources, I simply cannot participate in the greedfest the season has become. It has pretty much taken a lot of the fun out of Christmas for me. Moreover, I have essentially zero friends who are pining away for another little gadget to dust or figure out what to do with. In fact, most people I know are in a stage in life where, for whatever reason, they are downsizing and throwing out most of the junk from Christmases past that have already cluttered their living spaces for long enough. I know I don't need, or want, anything this year except to know that I am loved. And I know that now. So, I'm good. Please send me no cute little things. Cards and letters are always welcome, but spend no time, money and angst on me, because I hate waste. I'm sure you do too.

The real Spirit of Christmas is about giving where there is lack, where true need exists. Isn't that what the story of the Nativity is all about? A Spirit of giving that stems from a family in dire need? About opening our hearts and minds to a new way of seeing the world and one another? Well, that's what I want it to be about this year for me and mine.

I realize that "everyone" is a pretty big category, and some may feel less special because I have not singled them out for special attention. But those who love me and know me well are constantly made aware of how special they are to me because I tell them so every chance I get. And they know that I am struggling mightily with other priorities in my life, and so have no material expectations of me. So, this is my way of loving you all back.

My gift is to everyone. No exceptions. Even those with whom I disagree, or just plain dislike, have contributed something to my life. This is my expression of humble and loving thanks; not because I'm so good, but because that is what I believe Jesus would have me do, and what the gift of the Magi is all about.

That being said, there are some special people I feel a need to mention. So here goes:

Daniel and Brody Boise, my son and grandson;
David Daniel, my darling and sweet big brother;
The entire Cathemer family, and that's a lot of people;
The entire Celaya family, even bigger than the Cathemers;
The entire Boise-Geisler Clan;
The Pope-Schienle Clan;
My People of the Dog in LA;
All my old friends in southern California;
The entire town of Florence, AZ (my home sweet home);
And anyone else not on this list that I have loved, even if you hate me now.

That's about it for now. One week from today is Christmas Day, and I will be taking the day off and enjoying my Brodylicious grandson in Ft. Smith, Arkansas! And so, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukka, a Sweet Solstice, Happy Kwanza, or whatever else makes you merry this time of year.

See you next year!  Love, id