Susan Thom

What Is The Momentum That Pushes Us Forward



Posted: Saturday, December 12, 2009

by Susan Thom

We all have gone through hellacious times in our lives. This economy is hurting millions of people. If Wal-Mart can be almost empty, a week before Christmas, and you only have to wait behind one person, something is drastically wrong. That didn't even happen on the off season. Everyone is feeling the pinch, and being hurt by it. Lifestyles have had to change. The amount of gifts kids get are limited now.

A box of Christmas cards and stamps is not in the budget with many. A live tree can be up to a hundred dollars, but usually, you can find one for about forty dollars. However, forty dollars has become dinner for the week for many of us. New outfits for the kids turn into saving that money for other things, and dressing them in what they already have. We look at things differently. A cute little teddy bear used to get whipped into our carts, and now seems like a waste of money.

We have to do all our shopping in one day, because we don't have the money for gas to ride around. Even Christmas lights have tapered off some of our roofs, not being able to increase the electricity bill. Christmas stockings stay bare while that money went to the bigger toys. We start to use the fireplaces, if we have one, to draw more heat into the house. To me, all this is a good thing-a resurrection of who we really are in our simplicity.

So, with all these sacrifices we're making, what is the momentum that pushes us forward? We are disillusioned, confused, fearful, down in the dumps, and worried. This year, it won't be the size of the turkey we worry about, but the cost. The ambrosia gets checked off the list because that money needs to be spent elsewhere. So, what's the momentum? Is it our enjoyment of life aside from the problems we may be experiencing? Is it a spouse, children, and family that keeps us pushing ourselves?

Do we expect things to change? Or are we actually happy that our roots are coming back? Do we tend to appreciate things more? And do we expect things less? Are we happy and feeling blessed to have whatever it is we have? Do we have more of an understanding what it's like having to watch every penny we spend? Do we realize that the birth of Jesus can be celebrated with the minimal of trappings? Would He have not wanted that? If lights aren't on the house, will He be upset? If we are trying our best to use the momentum we get from our loved ones, to push us forward and keep us going, will He not be happy?

If we don't give up, and have a nice dinner, even if it's hot dogs, and spend time with our family, wouldn't Jesus be proud? And if we are managing to live each day in the best way we can, we are using the positive momentum we feel from within. When our child looks up and tells us they love us, that can be placed in our positive momentum spot in our heart. When we get a cute card from an old friend, and feel good and warm and sentimental-we can put it in the momentum spot.

Positive energy is the only way we are to survive, and thrive. Negative energy has no room in our bodies. So things are rough. At least we know we're not alone, and many are worse than ourselves. So, we only get one tie for Christmas this year, or one doll, or one GI Joe. We may be in the midst of our character growing, children included. We all knew when we thought we could spend tons of money, that we were being extravagant. In simplicity, we can find a more humble happiness, which should make us feel better, not worse.

Less wrapping paper, less stickers, bows, tinsel, boxes, tissue paper-this all adds up to a lot of money. Especially when you can't spare it. The world is not in a good place right now, but with family and friends to use as momentum for us to still be happy and excited and creative, we are dipping into our soul and really taking advantage that this is Jesus' birth, and we don't need money to celebrate that.





Susan Thom is the mother of three children, two sons, 20 and 23, and a daughter 25. Her older son is in the air force in Germany right now, and her daughter is in the army in Tacoma, Washington.

Writing calms her, and gives her a place to go by herself! Clears the head and gets it out. She lives in a rural area, with a lake and mountains, and her partner, and has loved writing since she was a child.

She has been on a journey of self discovery for twenty years, and has learned many things about the human mind, and how to maintain some semblance of calm and peace within.

If someone reads one of her stories, and relates to her feelings, and gets a suggestion on how she dealt with them in a positive way, that would be the ultimate gift of her writing.

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Linda DeWitt
 2 years 165 days ago.
 
. It is nice to be around family and I think less is more.
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