Does it bug you when stores release Christmas stuff way before the Christmas season, even before Thanksgiving? If so, you're much like my wife Angie. If someone sends me an ad or a sales pitch for some special Christmas gift, I respect their need to do so, and, especially in a poor economy, their need to get a jump on Christmas sales when those sales may be the largest percent of their annual volume. That doesn't mean I like it, it just means that I understand it. Nevertheless when my wife Angie gets one of those ads, her usual response is to post it on the refrigerator door with one of those little rubberized magnets, as a reminder not to buy a Christmas gift from them. That may seem a little harsh, but here's what she said to me.
"Shopping is a big part of what Christmas is all about, or at least what it has become-nothing really wrong with that. It's a big part, but it shouldn't be the only part. And the biggest part of Christmas gift shopping should be motivated by the giving. When retailers pull out all the stops, displaying most of their Christmas goodies, playing all the hymns and songs in each and every store, all of them with a long line of children waiting to sit on Santa's lap (and tell him what they want for Christmas), and all of this long before the 'official' start of the holidays, it's nothing more than the start of the shopping season.
"Names are drawn and Christmas gifts are bought, not just for the kids, but for everyone, presents are wrapped, stockings are hung, all this hustle and bustle and commercialization of the season seem a far cry from the simple idea of being together as a family or with friends just to count our blessings. All this flim-flam about trees, and presents, and Santa Claus tends to obscure the marvelous truth about what each person has in his or her own heart and expresses as the gifts of spirit, sharing and warmth. Instead, it's nothing but beggars beg and spenders spend, drinkers drink and vendors vend, or something like that-however that ancient rhyme goes.
"Then as soon as the 26th rolls around the stores are open with slashed prices to attract more shopping they hope will last until the next season. Then those Christmas gifts are exchanged or returned, gift certificates are redeemed, yadda yadda yadda. The truth about Christmas would come out if you took away all the gifts," she says. "Stuff the stockings and that would be it. Then we could get a fresh start. Then we could add gifts as a way to show real feeling, or benevolence or as a symbol of God's gift." Then she concludes with the question, "Don't you agree with me, Walker?"
I didn't answer. I decided long ago not to argue with my wife Angie about anything she feels strongly, or anything else for that matter. I can see her point, but sometimes I let Christmas sneak up on me, and I don't mind a little reminder about the need to take care of Christmas gifts from time to time. I'm not really being sold anything, it's just a reminder. I do sometimes wish, though, that they would wait until Thanksgiving to remind me about Christmas. What I need before Thanksgiving is a reminder about Thanksgiving.
But consider this: Where would we be if stores that sell Christmas gifts had to wait until a specified time to advertise and display their merchandise? Most of this stuff is sold throughout the year, not just at Christmas time. People buy a lot of this stuff each and every day of the year. What's wrong with a little reminder now and then? I see their point, and I don't mind it. My wife Angie though, she's on the alert for these reminders and, like a fast forwarded video, it's posted on the frig. As for me I've come away from Angie's list with some pretty good gift ideas.
When I decided not to argue with my wife Angie's point of view, I also found it a good practice to apologize in advance if I don't agree with everything she says. And I know she is going to see this. So here I am, disagreeing and apologizing at the same time. My only hope is that I get forgiveness for one or the other, not to mention both. - 30404
"Shopping is a big part of what Christmas is all about, or at least what it has become-nothing really wrong with that. It's a big part, but it shouldn't be the only part. And the biggest part of Christmas gift shopping should be motivated by the giving. When retailers pull out all the stops, displaying most of their Christmas goodies, playing all the hymns and songs in each and every store, all of them with a long line of children waiting to sit on Santa's lap (and tell him what they want for Christmas), and all of this long before the 'official' start of the holidays, it's nothing more than the start of the shopping season.
"Names are drawn and Christmas gifts are bought, not just for the kids, but for everyone, presents are wrapped, stockings are hung, all this hustle and bustle and commercialization of the season seem a far cry from the simple idea of being together as a family or with friends just to count our blessings. All this flim-flam about trees, and presents, and Santa Claus tends to obscure the marvelous truth about what each person has in his or her own heart and expresses as the gifts of spirit, sharing and warmth. Instead, it's nothing but beggars beg and spenders spend, drinkers drink and vendors vend, or something like that-however that ancient rhyme goes.
"Then as soon as the 26th rolls around the stores are open with slashed prices to attract more shopping they hope will last until the next season. Then those Christmas gifts are exchanged or returned, gift certificates are redeemed, yadda yadda yadda. The truth about Christmas would come out if you took away all the gifts," she says. "Stuff the stockings and that would be it. Then we could get a fresh start. Then we could add gifts as a way to show real feeling, or benevolence or as a symbol of God's gift." Then she concludes with the question, "Don't you agree with me, Walker?"
I didn't answer. I decided long ago not to argue with my wife Angie about anything she feels strongly, or anything else for that matter. I can see her point, but sometimes I let Christmas sneak up on me, and I don't mind a little reminder about the need to take care of Christmas gifts from time to time. I'm not really being sold anything, it's just a reminder. I do sometimes wish, though, that they would wait until Thanksgiving to remind me about Christmas. What I need before Thanksgiving is a reminder about Thanksgiving.
But consider this: Where would we be if stores that sell Christmas gifts had to wait until a specified time to advertise and display their merchandise? Most of this stuff is sold throughout the year, not just at Christmas time. People buy a lot of this stuff each and every day of the year. What's wrong with a little reminder now and then? I see their point, and I don't mind it. My wife Angie though, she's on the alert for these reminders and, like a fast forwarded video, it's posted on the frig. As for me I've come away from Angie's list with some pretty good gift ideas.
When I decided not to argue with my wife Angie's point of view, I also found it a good practice to apologize in advance if I don't agree with everything she says. And I know she is going to see this. So here I am, disagreeing and apologizing at the same time. My only hope is that I get forgiveness for one or the other, not to mention both. - 30404
About the Author:
Please go here, to see more about Christmas banjos, or check out my blog at papasboxes.com and you'll see some great ideas there.
