Wednesday, November 28, 2007

how to stay holy while doing Christmas shopping

First of all, never EVER shop on Black Friday, unless you generally enjoy shopping and can go without the kids. If you are me, always obey this rule.

Secondly, never leave the comfort of your home. Shop only on the internet, while the husband is at work and kids are napping or eating and you're drinking a fresh cup of coffee or indulging in the gourmet chocolate your husband gave you for your birthday. (Yes, he is the greatest.) Order all presents from the sea of online retailers, who (surprise surprise) often grant the same mark-downs to online shoppers as they do to walk-in cutomers.

While you're at it, make someone who is already getting paid to deliver things in the icy cold weather bring you the items you paid them for. You might spend a few extra dollars on shipping and handling - but you can justify this if you live in the country, since every trip into town costs you circa $3, not counting the emotional cost car rides have on babies who hate carseats.

That's how I've done all of my Christmas shopping this year.
Doing so has kept me from turning shopping into an occassion of sin - which often happens, and for a variety of reasons which i'll discuss much much later, of course.

And since the gifts i'm buying are given in order to honor the birth of Christ, it's immensely important that i stay holy while doing all the Christmas prep work.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

You should expand this into an article for Faith & Family! Of course, shopping is one of those great American pasttimes which can have redemptive qualities. For me, it can be reparation. Belive it or not, I used to like to go shopping! I must also admit, however, that there is something sort of neat about seeing the stores beautifully decorated, although most aren't. That one department store in Lima, Macy's was actually very pretty. It's not just Christmas shopping that is difficult anymore, but regular shopping. I am so tired of being visually assaulted by rows of bras/bikinis panties! Those items used to be off of the main aisle so that you would have to walk over to where they were located. Now, the stores are putting those items right on the main walkway! I wonder why.A store could actually be a place of beauty/order where people could purchase what they needed and there are a few like that-usually specialty stores where I don't buy anything anyway. Back to ebay for me! Mom.