The Holocaust Museum  in DC may not be the first place that someone would plan to visit over a Thanksgiving Weekend, but there I was with my husband reliving this  period of systematic persecution of European Jewry; I cannot tell you how grateful we felt for all of our blessings after that experience! 

The numbers were the first things to drive it home to me. For example, this ghetto, 10,000 died, this city, 50,000 were gassed, (at the next display) 75,000+ then 250,000.  Ultimately 6 million people lost their lives.  After experiencing the exhibits at the museum the dead were longer just faded pictures in a history book but faces of fathers, mothers, sisters and children.

This Christmas season may be difficult for many that are looking at financial challenges; The pull of the holiday sales and the desire to fulfill your loved ones’ gift lists can intensify that infamous stress that we can associate with this time of year. I invite you to join me in looking at this season with a different perspective. Let’s carry the gratefulness for our blessings through the entire season and into next year.

After all, when we look back at our favorite Christmas memories, how many gifts come to mind? I bet, not too many. 

I know for me, it was time spent at the Christmas train set that my Dad built every year, and visiting cousins and seeing Grandma. It was Mom’s Christmas cookies and visits from the neighbors.

This holiday season I’m looking for the memories that will be made with family and friends as the true “gifts”.  The price is right and they last forever, no extra warrantee needed.