As part of our series on “discovering choices,” the MPC Youth Group recently spent a meeting discussing how we make our choices for Christmas shopping. For some youth, this is one of their first real budgeting and buying experiences, using money saved up from odd jobs or babysitting to try to bring joy to their family and friends. We watched a fun video (only 3 minutes – give it a look) challenging us to simultaneously spend less and give more. And no, it wasn’t referring to the mad dash of sale-shopping we have just witnessed as people snatch up deals at 75% off, 85% off, 95% off (which leaves us wondering why our corporate overlords literally pay us to purchase their products far below retail prices). No, “spend less and give more” was calling us to find simpler ways to do the whole holiday shopping/giving process… Spending time instead of money, purchasing experiences rather than objects, sending gifts that are practical and homemade (perhaps edible), and making significant charity donations to bring real peace on earth.
Our church knows about this, of course. Giving To The World has been allowing us easy ways to make “alternative” gifts that are much closer to the core of Christmas’ meaning for many, many years (Editor’s note: Visit the GTTW table at Family Hour Dec. 6, 13, and 20th). And I know for a fact that this congregation is full of cooks, artisans, bakers, and expertly crafty up-cyclers, rich with talent and experience, who make simple, delicious, non-polluting and meaningful gifts… without contributing too much credit card debt to the grand total of $465,000,000,000 that America annually spends on Christmas. We know the importance of spending our money in the local economy, and the importance of investing in quality rather than quantity. Some of us even choose to opt out of the gift bonanza, and just keep it simple.
My favorite Christmas memory as a child was waking up to find sleds in the living room… and all of our stuffed animals, who had been liberated from our beds by Santa and his elves, were playing in and around the sleds. It was a snowy winter in New York and we made good use of those sleds. But the surprise and delight of finding all our stuffed animals posed and playing together actually overshadowed the sleds as gift-objects, and became an enduring tradition in the Given/Phillips household. On the other hand, there were those days when it felt like we just sat in the living room unwrapping and opening boxes for hours. The interminable parade of scarves and sweaters and interesting kitchen implements seemed to go on forever in such a large family, and held no such delight.
We have a lot of choices when it comes to the holidays, and I’d encourage you not to let anybody else’s expectations rule your choices this year. Spend if you will, but don’t count or compare. Craft and bake and upcycle gifts if you can, but don’t let the oppressive standards of the age of Pinterest (where perfect crafts are competitively photographed from every perfect angle) discourage you. Give as much as you can, keeping in mind the great charity options that allow your tiny bit of money to bring great peace, joy, and hope to those in deepest need. Above all, give generously, without strings attached – whether it is of your money, your time, your talent, or the greatest gift of all, yourself.
Every Blessing,
Talitha