The holidays are always meant to be a time filled with fun festivities,joy, laughter, lots of good eats, and family gatherings. My own childhood memory is of eating really good food and being around family. Receiving presents was not part of our tradition growing up and looking back at it now I realize how simple and wonderful that was. Now as I look around I see my friends and family members stressing out to the point of madness over the holiday craziness and pressure to buy for everyone even down to the dog. The pressure all seems to built as soon as Halloween ends ushering in the season of Christmas carols way too soon on the radio, a reminder to get ready to shop till we bust or until our credit cards screams denied at the check out counter.
Why do we set ourselves up for such stress? Would our neighbors really be upset if they didn't receive a Christmas card from you? How about Aunt Sally? Would she care if she didn't receive a gift but receive a phone call instead wishing her all the best? What about our spouses? Would they feel slighted if you decided to forgo gifts this year? The unfortunate answer is yes, most would care and feel some sort of resentment. Christmas is no longer a holiday meant to celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus Christ, how many people actually give thought to that during this holiday season? Instead it has become a season of the Black Friday rush and Cyber Mondays deals.
I miss the days when the holidays just meant getting together with friends and family, having a few drinks, eating good food, and being merry. A time when the sound of laughter filled the house as kids squeal with pure delight over that toy car, train set or that Barbie doll, simple toys. Instead we are greeted with unsure faces as we hope that our children will like the three hundred and fifty dollar game we bought them. Then December 26th comes along and glee turns to concern as we now wonder how the hell we're going to pay that credit card bill.
So this year I've opted out of receiving gifts for myself and luckily my husband is in agreement. My children will laugh and be merry as they open their package of joy which will probably last hopefully for a few days until the novelty wears off. Mom and dad will rejoice in the fact that we can pay the mortgage on the house next month, put food on the table, pay the car note, and pay our cable bill so we can look at the news to see how many millions of dollars was spent this year in holiday giving.
I love Christmas but lets love and give the best of ourselves to our friends and family. That's the best gift we can give. Merry Christmas!
