The Hard to Find Gift
A few Saturdays ago, I was so tired and frustrated that I sat in my car in the parking lot of the Dollar General and called my 16-year-old-son to tell him, "I've looked all over town and I cannot find Baby Jesus."
I'm not making this up, this is a true story.
Our church does an Advent Gift Bag each year, with a gift-a-day to celebrate an aspect of the Advent season, culminating with the birth of... you guessed it, Baby Jesus.
There was nary a Baby Jesus to be found. Well, I take that back, there were a few figurines at the Dollar Tree, but I needed twenty. There were some insipid child-dressed-as-adult $1 nativity sets... I ended up using those last year, and they are really just a bit too dreadful looking to use another year. Wal Mart had sets of dark blue glass Christmas ornaments with the Nativity scene in gold on them, and that is what I ended up getting for the "Baby Jesus" Advent day.
Still, I found it ironic that there were no Baby Jesus themed gifts ... isn't this holiday supposed to be about His birthday?
Oh, there were plenty of reindeer, and penguins. And elves, and angels. Snowmen and holiday teddy bears, Grinches and M&M's, Snoopy and Spongebobs, just no Emmanuel.
Jesus is just really hard to find.
Since that Saturday, I've overheard children's Christmas lists that would put the average adult into debt; I just shake my head slowly and blink... am I the only one who finds this so absurd? Maybe the folks that want to change the greeting from "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays" have a point.. 'cause there isn't much "Christ" in the season anymore.
Now, I'm no Scrooge. I love this time of year; I love the lights, the decorations, the festive colors and the wonderful family traditions; I look forward to the music, the movies, the cards and the mistletoe. But a trip to a mall in December will cause me to hum an old R.E.M. tune. I know, I know, businesses depend on this season to make a profit and make a living. What I don't like is the crowds, the grumpiness, and hearing so many people who are under stress. It makes me think long and hard about the Buy Nothing Christmas folks, who scoff at the "Shopocalypse" of the season.
On their website, they advocate some alternatives. Some are pretty familiar, such as the family cookbook, knitted and crocheted items, foods and gifts to charities like the Heifer International. It'd be neat to do that for local charities like Hartsville Interfaith Ministries, the Hartsville Soup Kitchen Mission, the Darlington County Free Medical Clinic, the Darlington County Animal Shelter, or the Guardian ad Litem program (click on the county information on the left to get the address for Darlington County)
Another Google search garnered this Taking Back Christmas idea; the author touched on the "homemade" idea as well, spending time at home with family but added a surprisingly obvious suggestion: Call those friends or relatives you usually avoid talking to.
That hits home to me, for I would rather e-mail than call someone any day... yet it's impossible to e-mail the elderly people that I love dearly.... they not only don't have computers, they adore phone calls!
Last year, I tried to do better with my Christmas card writing, and ended up receiving the most amazing response from a sweet elderly woman that I know. I had written a short, personal note on her Christmas card, addressed it, stuck in the "done" pile and promptly went to the next card. Yet, when she opened the card and read what I wrote, she took the time to get a thank you card and wrote "I re-read what you wrote many times. Thank you so much for lifting my spirits this Christmas, you made my day."
I didn't get a response that heartwarming from anything I bought for anyone last year; the memory of that heartfelt "thank you card for a Christmas card" made me realize that Christmas is not about the biggest and best gift, it's just about sharing some love.
Bring back Christmas...
Visit an elderly person who doesn't get out much. Volunteer to give a caregiver a much needed respite from the person they care for...and then really connect with that person who is homebound. Go through your Christmas card list and write a real letter, or better yet, call them. Stay home one night and just bake something. Go through the boxes of old photos with your loved ones and reminisce. Turn off the television and put on some old music. Talk to your kids, no, better yet, listen to them.
So, "Love one another" this Christmas...and never discount the magic of a handwritten love letter.
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