And wisdom often comes with experience. Spiritual preparation, too U.S. Catholic readers are as helpful as elves with suggestions for ways to keep Christmas gift-giving in the right spiritual perspective. Most ideas center around remembering that Advent is not merely a season for shopping but rather a time of preparation for Christ's coming. To make time for Advent devotions, Marian LeBlanc of Marion, Massachusetts makes a commitment not to shop on the Sundays before Christmas. Other readers try to have all their presents purchased before Thanksgiving so Advent can be a time of spiritual preparation.
Many readers say they try to balance their time spent in stores with efforts for the less fortunate.
One respondent says she matches each gift bought with a contribution to a charity in the same amount. A number of people say they give charitable donations as gifts in their recipient's name. Other ways to keep the Christ in Christmas include creating homemade gifts or shopping at stores with a conscience. Religious bookstores, catalogues, and magazines, as well as Third World shops, are popular destinations for those wanting to send a message along with their gifts. One priest says he limits his gifts to food items made at a local monastery.