Christmas shopping

So, do you have all your Christmas shopping done? This is a relatively inevitable question this time of year. Probably because buying gifts at Christmas is something I would venture 99% or more of us do. I'm not really sure why we do it though?

What is this holiday really about anyway? It's not about gifts - at least not the ones we give each other. It's about the greatest gift of all - God's son sent to earth as a baby. That discussion is one for another day. Today I want to focus on this gift giving tradition.

Are there alternatives? What do you say to your children if you don't give them gifts? I've been blessed and am able to buy gifts for my niece and nephews, my dad, and my brother and sister. But what if I wasn't? Would that make me a less loving person? Would it make me less of a Christian?

What if gift giving or gift receiving isn't my love language? (See Gary Smalley's book, "Five Love Languages" if you don't know what I'm talking about - you're welcome Gary) Do I care about the gift? Does anyone else care if I give them gifts?

What does the sharing of a gift mean? I think it is supposed to show care, love, and generosity. So let's take on the subject. If you are hungry and I give you a gift but don't feed you, have I cared for you? Have I loved you? Have I truly been generous? If you would rather have me spend time with you but instead I buy you a gift and walk away, have I cared for you? Loved you? Truly been generous? I think the answers are obvious and you get my point.

But how about this. If one of the primary ways I express love is by giving gifts but a person doesn't receive love that way should I get them a gift? Do they need to learn to be gracious and receive it? Yes, they do. However, can I learn creativity in my giving so that it does match the recipients love language? I think so. If their language is quality time can I plan my gift to be spending time with him/her? If it's encouraging words can I make my gift a note - or the perfect card which tells them how special they are? I think so.

So what does this all mean? I think it's time the shopping was slowed. (I might not agree if I still worked in retail.) Think about the gifts you are giving before you go out and spend money. Be creative. Recognize the love language of your gift recipients. Maybe you do something together instead.

Take the money saved and use it for those with legitimate needs. Have family bonding time serving a meal in a soup kitchen on Christmas day. Maybe you also supply the soup, or at least make a donation to the soup kitchen so they can continue to serve those in need.

Just a few thoughts as we close in on Christmas and celebrate the birth of our Savior - the epitome of love, care, and generosity.

Blessings,
Eric