I get a lot of people (ok…two) asking me what I want for Christmas. My standard answer for the last couple of years has been, “Nuthin”. So far this has caused more consternation than I had hoped. So I feel I need to explain.

Tammy and I went through some really hard times back around 2001. I got laid off after the tech industry crash. Then I got laid off again after 9/11. That’s two layoffs in one year. After the second layoff, I went without a job for about three months. When the savings were gone and the credit cards maxed, we were forced to move to my parent’s ranch in La Grange, Texas.

All that is to say that (while I’ve never gone hungry) I do know what it is like to want, to need, to go without. But in the last two years, God has blessed us beyond our expectations. We both have stable, good-paying jobs. We live in a really nice apartment. We’ve been able to buy just about all the “toys” we want (within reason) and we are well on track to paying off our debt. We’re not zillionaires, but we are richly blessed.

Most importantly, God has taught me what it means to be content in any circumstance. I have come to understand that “things” are not the spice of life. If anything, worldly possessions tend to weigh you down. I sometimes feel guilty when I see something I spent good money on and I know I haven’t used it in months: DVDs I never watch, PC games I never play, gadgets and goodies I “had to have” but now that I have them, they just collect dust.

I find myself in the enviable position of having more stuff than I need. So when I am asked what I want for Christmas, I can honestly say, “Nothing.” Still, I know that there are some folks out there whose love language is gift giving… *cough*Nicolle*cough* …and for the sake of those who feel they simply must give me a gift, I have come up with a solution.

Rather than contributing to my storage closet, contribute to a worthy cause. Make donation on my behalf to The Gladney Fund. The Gladney Center offers loads of adoption services and they provide counseling, medical assistance and even housing to young women with crisis pregnancies. It’s a solid, reputable organization. You can make a donation online and even send a letter to me letting me know about it.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a remote controlled car that I haven’t spent quality time with in over a year!

Merry Christmas!!