Giving makes Christmas the most wonderful time of the year

Christmas is probably my favorite time of the year. As a child, Christmas was a time filled with excitement and hopes of getting everything I asked Santa for. As a parent, Christmas became a time of making memories and hoping that my child's wishes came true.

Christmas is about more than just Santa Claus, but Santa does remind us about giving from the heart.

Aside from all the marketing, Black Friday sales, Cyber Monday sales, and what seems like the never-ending slew of commercials for this years hottest toy, Christmas remains a special time of the year for me. A time that I can sit on the couch at night and gaze at the Christmas tree. A time when I feel more relaxed. I take the time to reflect on all the good things that have happened over the year.

I even find myself getting lost in the memories of Christmases past - especially when I see ornaments that my son made when he was just a toddler. 

I can remember the look of pride on his face when he gave me that ornament, wrapped up in green tissue paper and tied with a red piece of yarn. It didn't cost a lot of money, but it was made with love and given with love. The giving is what Christmas is all about to me. 

So the other day when my son came to me in tears because he didn't have money to buy me a special Christmas present, I reminded him of the snowman ornament he gave me when he was just 3 years old. The same popsicle stick ornament that hangs front and center every year on our tree. This is what brings a smile to my face. I told him to make me something special - a card, a drawing, anything that he made would be the best present I could ever ask for. 

The gift of giving is what makes Christmas the most wonderful time of the year.