It's seems easy enough to embrace the tradition and hype of the holidays; particularly the  pursuit of perfect gifts for others, in exchange for love and gratitude.

These seemingly  personalized gifts; the new, unique  and packaged, are only tokens. They demand too much of someone so broke and burdened with the world. I am overwhelmed and too exhausted for such quests.  I cannot buy into such craziness without losing my balance and risking emptiness.

This holiday, I need something more:
Courage and strength to face the heaviness of the past, a deeper faith to forgive and heal, a clearer vision and full heart to know I have enough. In rest and prayer I am finding brighter and lighter gifts.  Gifts that satisfy and heal because they too are enough; gifts of time, love, and faith that flow freely from my humbled heart.

These gifts emerge as small seeds of compassion. They take root from my soul, and grow strong through deep gratitude and honest sustenance. I give what strengthens me, gifts that reflect my own wants and needs. I will wrap these gifts in hugs and hand-holding, time spent in reflection and community. I deliver these with loving presence.

This holiday when we unwrap our priceless gifts I want it to be enough. I want them to fill us with healthy peace, and shared happiness. I want us to rise above the hype and face the new year with energy and confidence knowing that we are gifts, and we are enough.