Christmas is here, and I am home with my family.  It is always a nice time of the year to relax and unwind.  Except in some weird way, it often seems a bit more stressful - so much commotion and anticipation.  At any rate, as our family has grown older, it has become increasingly difficult to buy presents for each other.  Other than my niece (who is 13), my immediate family is made up of adults who are financially stable and sound.  Therein lays the problem.

If any of us need or want something, we simply go purchase it.  When it comes time for Christmas, it has become increasingly an exchange of gift cards.  While that is nice and all, I would rather see the money spent exchanging gift cards (i.e. give $300 in gift cards and get about the same back) be used for the benefit of someone that is less fortunate.  I have talked to some of my family about this, and there seems to be some support, but I am not sure, when the rubber met the road, if the good intentions would play out the intended way.  Take Sarah’s real life example and you likely have what would happen in our family.  Some would go along with the idea, some would not, and in the end, we would all look foolish.

Christmas, as I have grown older, is so much more about spending time with family and friends, than it is about getting gifts.  My house is overfull with things I do not use the way it is.  More gifts or gift cards are not going to make me any happier or satisfied in life.

In fact, helping out a family or cause that is in need on Christmas would bring more joy to me than the annual gift card exchange. I am still all for spending time with my family and friends, as they are very important to me. Yet, being able to give to those in need on this holiday would be in the true spirit of Christmas.

Leave a Reply