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Don’t let shopping ruin your Christmas spirit

5 min read

Hey y’all! How are you living? Did you get a chance to build a snowman? Or build a bridge with a friend? Co-worker? Neighbor? Or better yet, a stranger?

No? Not yet? Well no worries. I know that it can be difficult to take a step outside of our comfort zone and talk about ourselves and listen, to learn about another human being. I mean really…who wants to learn about another person, especially when it can truly bless our lives and tear down barriers that prevent us from truly connecting as one body? Did you catch the hint of sarcasm in my tone? Good. I meant it. (If you are unsure of what I am talking about, check out my previous commentary.)

Anyway, speaking of snowmen and taking a step, it is the holiday season, the season of gift-giving. How many of you have been taking steps, walking from store to store shopping for Christmas presents? Yeah — me too! I’ve also been working at a local store. It’s my once a year, earn some extra money for the holidays, part-time hustle.

As a side note — I hope that you’ve greeted each sales associate that took care of your purchase with kindness and respect. Remember, they are the sales associate. They did not create the coupon or the policy written in fine print on the bottom. They did not sit in a lab or work on the manufacturing of the product you are purchasing. They are there to provide you with outstanding customer service within the limited scope of their job. They do not deserve to have their heads ripped, receiving the residual of your bad mood because you chose to overspend and purchase items for people that you only interact with on holidays. Sarcasm again.

Gift-giving should occur in the spirit of love. Over the years, we have commercialized our holidays and celebrations and centered them on gift-giving. Maybe that’s the problem. We’ve become so caught up in buying the latest and greatest, that we forgot about gift-giving and why we are giving anyone anything. Considering this unfortunate state of affairs, I think it’s time we had class.

The word give, defined as a verb, is to “freely transfer the possession of something to someone, to provide or supply with.” Freely. Free, defined as an adverb, means “without cost or payment.” Give. Free. Hmmm.

So the act of giving, should not come with a cost. It should be given freely. Now the cost that I am referring to has nothing to do with money. No my friend. The cost that I speak has to do with our mental, physical and spiritual self. What cost are we willing to pay to give gifts? And when we will get back to “gift-giving?” You are thinking to yourself, “Gina, I know that you are tired, but you just said the same thing twice.” No. I didn’t. Let me explain.

In a 2010 article from Greater Good, the Science of a Meaningful Life, Jill Suttie and Jason Marsh write about the ways that giving is good for you. In the article, they suggest and further research from institutions like the Harvard Business School support, that giving makes you feel happy. They go on to say that giving evokes gratitude and that it is even good for our health. So why does “gift-giving” cause so much stress?

During our last conversation, I referenced the idea that “people cannot give you what they don’t have.” Maybe folks get stressed because they go into debt just to buy the latest and greatest gifts. You can’t give what you don’t have. The holidays should not be about standing in lines, angry and frustrated because you chose to buy said gifts. Time should be spent with families and making memories. You can’t give your families time if you’re too busy standing in lines. The holidays should not be stressful. They shouldn’t be burdensome. They should be celebratory and filled with giving — giving of what you actually have.

“So just what do I have Gina?” Great question! You have YOU! You have life, a life that was given to you by the Holy Father with hope that you would use that life to bless those around you.

More importantly, you have access to the ultimate gift-giver, the Lord. In John 3:16 we are reminded that He gave His only son for our lives. He did it freely. Christmas is about giving. Its about the birth of Jesus Christ, a gift to the world. A gift that we, like children receiving gifts on Christmas morning, would tire of and throw away, only for him to love us anyway and save us from ourselves.

Each day we should wake up and think about what we can give to others. Not just financial gifts or purchased items. What can we give or do to bless others? How about a smile? A compliment? A kind gesture? A positive conversation? You can do it. You can be a daily gift-giver.

John Maxwell says, “If you are not doing something with your life, it doesn’t matter how long you live.” What are you going to do today? Who are you going to bless? What are you going to give?

Gina Jones is a life-long resident of Fayette County and serves the community as an encourager, educator and advocate.Learn more about Gina at www.gmarieproductions.com.

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