Not long ago, I was privileged to be asked to speak to a wonderful group of seniors. The point of my message was to embrace the wisdom they’ve gained over the years and to pass it on to the next generation—especially as it relates to managing money and personal finances. I left them with a request to share some of their wisdom with me, especially as it relates to how they handle Christmas. And share they did! Today, I have selected a bit of that wisdom to share with you.
Give What You Have
One year, both my parents came down with a severe flu that kept them homebound for the holiday shopping season. When I visited, my mother expressed how sad she was that they wouldn’t have gifts to give on Christmas morning. I mentioned the wealth of treasures in her attic—the trunks and storage boxes full of things she stashed away from years gone by. It raised her spirits to go through the items and relive the memories.
She selected something for each of her children, such as an antique doll; old needlework and doilies she or family members had made; and sketches she did in high school. My father gave each grandchild coins from his collection. It was one of my all-time favorite Christmas celebrations. Their gifts had true meaning for their recipients. —Ran
