Celebrating the Birth of Our Savior

I used to think Linus, on the Charlie Brown Christmas Special, went a little overboard when he decried the commercialism that surrounds Christmas. I now think our philosophical, blanket carrying friend was right.

This year, we are confronted with buying the perfect gift for everyone in the family. To top that, my in-laws are taking the family on a cruise for Christmas, which means we will floating around the Caribbean on Christmas Day, so the gifts need to be small. We have to tote them on and off the boat.

The thing that gets me is that we have to spend money to buy the exact gift someone else wants. There is no thought or surprise in gift giving anymore. We have to make sure we buy the right color, size, edition, style, or whatever. It's not enough to say, "I want a shirt for Christmas." We have to say, "I want the blue polo shirt with a white pinstripe, size XL." Ugh.

If we just not buy anyone else exactly what they want, we could buy what we want. I understand the notion of gift-giving at Christmas, but it is out of control. Do we really have to buy anything. If we do not get what the other person wants, they are disappointed. If they do not buy the exact thing we want, we are disappointed. If we leave it to chance, we get a bunch junk we really do not want. (Three years in a row, I received a hooded sweatshirt from the same person. It was a nice gift, but I really only needed one.)

I just want to focus on the birth of the Savior this year without the insanity of the hunt for the perfect gift.