What I Want for Christmas

What do you want? What do you need? Sometimes these questions have the same answer, but usually they do not.  When I was ten years old, I wanted a Brett Favre jersey even more than I wanted a Winnie the Pooh watch.  When I was 16, I wanted accessories for my car and this horribly ugly jean vest with a fur collar (WHY?).  When I was 18, I wanted an iPod (back when they weighed 4 pounds) and a new pair of vans.  Then almost a decade passed, and although deep down I still want gift cards to Anthropologie, Christmas becomes zero fun when focused on yourself.  I realized this the year I got a vacuum…

That year I had an epiphany... I’m an adult with a job who can actually buy myself things.  When you’re a kid, Christmas and your birthday are everything because those are the only times you get to request nice, special things you want.  1 Cor. 13 says, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man (or woman), I put childish ways behind me.”  When I became an adult, I realized, vacuums are expensive, and I need one! My family wanted to get me something for Christmas, and that was the perfect gift. And when we "put childish ways" behind us, we realize that when we turn all our focus to GIVING, Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year.

So here is my challenge for all you GLAM girls this Christmas… When your family asks, “What do you want for Christmas,” why don’t we try to think about some needs before wants? And no, I’m not saying you can’t have that scarf from Anthropologie, but what if most of our list was for things making a greater impact or actual needs.

Here are my 10 Ideas of What I Want for Christmas: 

10. Plā Beauty - This organic lip balm is not only safer for you, but 25 percent of the proceeds go to towards Children's Healthcare. 

9. Polar Bears - Y'all. I seriously love polar bears.  And they are at risk right now. "Adopting" a polar bear or another sweet creature that God created is totally on my Christmas list. Plus they DO send you a gift with your donation. Win-Win!

8. Recycling Bin - If you don't recycle (sigh), your gift to me can be buying yourself a bin. (Enough said. I'm not gonna beat a dead horse here.)

7. Arts Education - Make a donation to Arts education programs in city schools where funding has been cut. Be sure to select “Art Education fund for Birmingham city schools” in the category!

6. After-School Care - Donate to the Boys & Girls Club to sponsor a child's tuition ($45.00) for the month! Children are picked up from their school and taken to the club where they participate in arts programs, sports, reading clinics, and more!

5. Sole Hope - A donation of $10 means that a child in Uganda will get a pair of closed toe shoes. 

4. USO - Buy a soldier a gift! 

3. Pure Charity – Purchase Christmas gifts through the Pure Charity site and Target, Gap, and other retailers will donate a percentage to a program of your choice. 

2. Anza Imani  - If you want to get that Recycling bin or any other items off of Amazon, purchase through the Anza Imani link to support orphans in Tanzania.  Or just make a donation in someone's name here and get a printable certificate! 

1. Help One - Finally, my number one pick is to straight-up sponsor an orphan's care and education. Many organizations facilitate this, so any will do.  Help One sponsors orphans in Haiti and Uganda <3. And that changes someone's whole life.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!