tis the season to...spend?

Every year I shop and buy the gifts for my family and friends. Some people I take my time and try and find the perfect gift and then some get the norm gift ie: scarf, purse, gloves, hat, T-shirt, sweater, etc. all good gifts but zero thought goes into the gift. I run around the malls and store hop at the wee hours to get every single person a gift. My body aches, my feet hurt and I just don't enjoy the gift giving process.

This year is a new season, and I want to enjoy everything that's good about it. Jesus, family, friends, cookies, Christmas movies, eggnog, Charlie Brown, tree decorating, ice skating and so much more. I enjoy finding the perfect gift for each person and seeing their reaction when they open it. But then it has become work, hard labor...trying to find a parking spot, getting stuck in traffic, standing long lines, getting sneezed on by strangers, pushed, yelled at...its just not worth it anymore. the craziness of it all.

Recently I have been convicted of being in debt so I have made a pack to pay off my credit cards by the end of this year, this factor leaves a lack of funds. So I decided not to buy any Christmas gifts this year. At first this idea didn't sit well with me, "how could I not buy gifts?!?!?!" and so I let this uneasiness sit for a while and I started to wonder "why?" and started asking myself "does it really matter if I don't buy gifts?" "will they not love me as much?" "am I so ingrained in this system that I can't pull myself away?" I was worried about telling my family that I wasn't going to buy them gifts, I was worried they wouldn't understand. I told my mom, she nodded in agreement and approval. I hung out with my dad and broke the news to him, kind of understood but wanted to give me money to buy gifts, he is a gift giver. I appreciated the thought but forcefully declined. I say "forcefully" only towards myself, I think God has so much to teach me through this and taking his money would be the easier way out and "OH I sooooo wanted to take the easy way out"

The thought of not doing or getting anyone anything still left me feeling uneasy, so I started thinking of things that I can get people. Things that will truly come from the heart and that I really want to give people this season, something that won't cost a thing.

This season is going to be the start of something new, a new path perhaps.
I guess my question to you is...whats this season going to be for you?