... for stressful party preparations and frantic gift
giving. These are the motions we go
through each year to demonstrate to others that we are “keeping” Christmas. But even when all things are said and done,
when the last gift if opened and the last morsel of food of the Christmas feast
is consumed, each one of use will suffer a little pang of emptiness, a sense of
a little something that’s missing.
As I get older I’m starting to think
that the little bit of emptiness we still feel is knowing we missed the mark,
the “reason for the season”. Maybe it’s
me but it seems our gift giving is more about impressing rather than
expressing. We race about trying to find
the latest electronic gizmo, or that name brand piece of clothing, that one
special something that the other person always wanted.
“Wanted”, maybe that’s the
problem. It’s all about wanting
something. What about needing? Maybe that’s how we fill that void. Give someone something they need rather than
want. I can bet you’ll find it much more
gratifying, as will they. But the trick
is to know the difference between a want versus a need. We might want our “toys” but we need something
much greater. Well, to get a jump start
on next year’s shopping, here are some gift ideas…
- Time – take the time to be present with someone. Your parents, your children, a friend, or even a stranger.
- Patience – be slow to react. Allow things to play out before you and keep a balance of your emotions.
- Encouragement – help someone to discover their own hidden talents and show them their worth.
- Love – whether you write, call or visit, let someone know how much you care and that you are a richer person for having them in your life.
Those are just a few. I’m sure you can come up with more.
As Christ was and is God’s gift to
us all, may we all be a gift to each other this day and always. Merry Christmas and God’s blessings to you
all.
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