Whether it is right or wrong, if there is one thing that says Christmas more than any other, it is Gifts or Presents. Ask any child and most adults and the word 'gift' brings a little sparkle to the eye. We hear of nothing else from October through December.
We are either urged to purchase things the recipients don't really need or want or we are encouraged to buy gifts for ourselves. We make lists and hope the people reading the lists actually get what we have written. There is even a dilemma in making a list if there is no monetary amount set. Do we ask for that $100 gift we want or are we humble and ask for a new cookie sheet? (Actually, I could use a new cookie sheet.)
My ex-mother-in-law is no longer living, but it was useless to give her a list for my children when they were small. She always asked for the lists, but never paid attention to them. I would write 'purple slacks, size 4' but she would buy green ones in a size 6 so they would fit longer, of course. It became humorous after several years; I knew it wouldn't matter what I wrote.
I think we have all been guilty of the thought, "Well, I'm certain they will like what I get them better than what they wrote on their list" right? And I know we have all done the 'rush around the aisles and pick up something, anything, for that person we forgot.
The season also brings with it the opportunities to buy gifts for many adults and children less fortunate than us. Whether it is the change we drop into the red kettles or the lists we pick off a giving tree; either at church or some other organization.
If you notice, the title is about being a good gift-getter. That is probably more important than buying the correct gift. I have a few examples. My mother, whom I loved dearly was a terrible gift-getter. I have tried, on occasion, to analyze that, but aside from being of German heritage and not feeling worthy or being from a family of 9 children and growing up getting one item, I have never figured it out totally.
One Christmas stands out in my mind as the prime example. Mom had often made the statement that it seemed like a waste of electricity to heat the entire oven for 2 baked potatoes for her and Dad. I smugly thought I had the perfect gift: a toaster oven. Not a complicated one, just the right size.
We are either urged to purchase things the recipients don't really need or want or we are encouraged to buy gifts for ourselves. We make lists and hope the people reading the lists actually get what we have written. There is even a dilemma in making a list if there is no monetary amount set. Do we ask for that $100 gift we want or are we humble and ask for a new cookie sheet? (Actually, I could use a new cookie sheet.)
My ex-mother-in-law is no longer living, but it was useless to give her a list for my children when they were small. She always asked for the lists, but never paid attention to them. I would write 'purple slacks, size 4' but she would buy green ones in a size 6 so they would fit longer, of course. It became humorous after several years; I knew it wouldn't matter what I wrote.
I think we have all been guilty of the thought, "Well, I'm certain they will like what I get them better than what they wrote on their list" right? And I know we have all done the 'rush around the aisles and pick up something, anything, for that person we forgot.
The season also brings with it the opportunities to buy gifts for many adults and children less fortunate than us. Whether it is the change we drop into the red kettles or the lists we pick off a giving tree; either at church or some other organization.
If you notice, the title is about being a good gift-getter. That is probably more important than buying the correct gift. I have a few examples. My mother, whom I loved dearly was a terrible gift-getter. I have tried, on occasion, to analyze that, but aside from being of German heritage and not feeling worthy or being from a family of 9 children and growing up getting one item, I have never figured it out totally.
One Christmas stands out in my mind as the prime example. Mom had often made the statement that it seemed like a waste of electricity to heat the entire oven for 2 baked potatoes for her and Dad. I smugly thought I had the perfect gift: a toaster oven. Not a complicated one, just the right size.
She unwrapped it while I waited for her look of surprise and delight. She looked at the picture on the box and said, "Ach, what am I going to do with this?" I was in my thirties and it was still disappointing. Lest you think it affected my psyche, I can assure you it didn't. I teased her about it many times because she used it nearly every day after she decided to keep it.
On the other end of the spectrum was my firstborn, Kirk. He was excited about every gift. One of his 'small' gifts when he was 3 or 4, was a box of brown socks (obviously he needed new socks). When he opened it, he exclaimed, "Look, I got brown socks. Yay, brown socks."
On the other end of the spectrum was my firstborn, Kirk. He was excited about every gift. One of his 'small' gifts when he was 3 or 4, was a box of brown socks (obviously he needed new socks). When he opened it, he exclaimed, "Look, I got brown socks. Yay, brown socks."
He might not have been that excited about socks when he was a teenager, but he certainly was as a child. When I see the videos on FHV of children having temper tantrums when they don't get what they want, I want to reach through the TV screen and jerk a knot in their young, unappreciative tails. I, being curmudgeonly, obviously, do not find their antics humorous.
Are you a good gift-getter? Do you smile and tell your grandchild you will use the rock he just gave you, as a paper weight on your desk or do you ask, as my mom did, "Now what am I gonna do with this?"
I had to teach Kalisha, who is blatantly truthful, how to be appreciative even if she already had 6 of the exact same thing. I didn't teach her to lie, but to say thank you and leave it at that. If she doesn't like it or it is a duplicate, she will give it to someone who will use it.
One more thought: Are you a good gift-getter of the most precious gift of all time? When God gave us his one and only Son, he really didn't want to hear, "What am I supposed to do with this?" or "Thanks, but I already have something similar." or "I really don't need this and don't think I will ever use it." or "Can I please exchange it for something a little more fun?"
It is the same with the spiritual gifts he has given each of us. Enjoy your gifts, embrace them, make use of them and be as happy with what you have been given as Kirk was, with his brown socks.
Merry Christmas and God's blessings to you.
Are you a good gift-getter? Do you smile and tell your grandchild you will use the rock he just gave you, as a paper weight on your desk or do you ask, as my mom did, "Now what am I gonna do with this?"
I had to teach Kalisha, who is blatantly truthful, how to be appreciative even if she already had 6 of the exact same thing. I didn't teach her to lie, but to say thank you and leave it at that. If she doesn't like it or it is a duplicate, she will give it to someone who will use it.
One more thought: Are you a good gift-getter of the most precious gift of all time? When God gave us his one and only Son, he really didn't want to hear, "What am I supposed to do with this?" or "Thanks, but I already have something similar." or "I really don't need this and don't think I will ever use it." or "Can I please exchange it for something a little more fun?"
It is the same with the spiritual gifts he has given each of us. Enjoy your gifts, embrace them, make use of them and be as happy with what you have been given as Kirk was, with his brown socks.
Merry Christmas and God's blessings to you.
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