Does Santa give cash?

"When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings"
                                     -Bing Crosby 

Yesterday at church our Pastor's message was all about giving as God would give. While I will save you the religious details of his message, here is what I got out of it. No matter your beliefs or thought process in life, we are all very blessed in one way or another. I am blessed in so many ways and I am thankful for each one of them.

This time of year it is popular to hear, "Give back!" and "Pay it forward!" I love these phrases and the concept. While I wish they were more of an annual thing, it just makes me love this time of year even more. It makes me want to share in as many ways as I can and it also makes me want to pass that feeling on to my children. This is easier said then done. My children are spoiled rotten, I will admit it. They have no want for anything. Between adoring grandparents, uncles, aunts and friends, my kids have almost everything under the sun. In fact, when starting our Christmas lists this year, my 6 year old asked me, "Mom, does Santa give money?" I was shocked at this question, what child would want cash instead of presents. When I inquired about her strange request, she informed me that, "I want a kitten and since you and Daddy won't let me have one, I want money so I can buy my own. One hundred dollars should do it, don't you think Mom?" Oh my gosh, what have I done? While I was proud that she has figured out that she could spend her money and purchase her own "wants", I was appalled that working for the money hadn't entered her mind. That and the fact that money was also on my Christmas list.

So, change of tactic, instead of cleaning out their closets, clothes bins and toy room alone this season, I would make the kids help me. Then we would go to a local organization home base and drop the goodies off. I wanted my kids to see, not only how much crap they actually had, but also how little others really close to them had.
Yes, it was a total nightmare to get them involved. Sure, they cried and whined when I put toys they hadn't played with in a year in the bags, but they soon forgot that toy when they found other toys that they had been looking for. Honestly, I found toys I didn't even know we had and some were even unopened.  We were able to load up my entire van full of stuff to donate and watching my kids help unload everything was the best feeling. They were able to see what a true need really looked like.

We should give and do good deeds, not because we have to, but because we can. No matter how little we think we have in life, there are a ton out there that have even less. I have my problems, my struggles and my stresses, but I have so many amazing things in my life that I wouldn't trade for those difficulties to go away.
 What do you have to be thankful for this season? How many blessings are out there that have been over looked or hidden by the constant  struggles of every day life?

 I am thankful for the reminder of how much I am truly blessed in life. I will carry it with me through this holiday season and into next year. May I always remember this and be able to pass on the gesture of giving, not just receiving. "Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps, means a little bit more." The Grinch