Gifts are good.  The wise men brought them. And who doesn't want to be considered wise?  (I just worry that some of us think we are wiser the more gifts we give.) 

 Recently, the media has been reporting on AC often wondering if children will "get" the concept or simply be disappointed.  Hopefully, they won't be disappointed with the answer.

It's important to note that kid's think a bit more simply and a whole lot more clearly than most adults.  They get WORSHIP FULLY and LOVE ALL just a bit more naturally.

So what about gifts?  Gifts true purpose (or one of them) is the building of anticipation.  It's the anticipation of Christmas which mirrors ever so slightly the anticipation of Israel for her Messiah or our anticipation of Christ's return.  Jesus taught in metaphors, and done properly, we teach our children the same way. 

So there is absolutely nothing wrong with buying the new bike, Disney fairies  or other overly commercialized toy for your children.  This is a very good thing for all the children who dread their Parents ability to work a needle much less knit. 

But anticipation needs to be holy versus profane.  Profane anticipation is much like expectation and the disappointment of not getting what you expected versus the realization of the love that went into the gift you got.  Jesus was rejected for not being the king or warrior most expected.  How could our king not be "kingly" many at the time wondered.  To me the greatest threat of commericialization of Christmas is moving anticipation of something beautiful into the profane expectation that I deserve a gift and I deserve it to be the one I circled in the catalog (or bookmarked online for all of you reasonably up to date with technology).

So what kind of gifts simply don't make sense or move from anticipation and the building of relationships between the giver and recipient to pure expectation?

 Gifts of Tipping (or to be honest bribing)

This time of the year, everyone gives everyone a gift.  Today, I even got an envelope from the trashmen.  They have a hard job, I know.  And I really appreciate that they don't leave my cans on the street and don't leave my trash in my lawn.  But I can't say I know them.  I used to know one of them.  He was a mighty little man.  Nice fella too.  Always smiling.  Usually singing.  It never felt strange giving him an opportunity to eat out at his favorite restaurant, which I knew because as the truck would turn the corner and make its way back up the street, if I was out, we chatted for a second.  But I don't know the new trashman and he doesn't know me.  And I am pretty sure they expect a Christmas bonus (though they have to call it a holiday bonus).

So, my newspaper boy also wanted a bonus.  Well he is really a man and doesn't have a bike, he has a huge van.  I am sure he works hard early in the morning too.  And I appreciate a well thrown paper (the one in three that doesn't land where it shouldn't).  He left me an envelope too.  So I thought great, I will give him something to be inspired by, a donation to charity.  He left me a note "encouraging" me to give it to someone else, cash would really help him ths season.  

When you fail to recognize the beauty in the gifts you get versus the one's you thought you deserved, you miss the meaning of Christmas as well as life.

Wait for Christmas Gift

I have a very nice warm coat for my wife for Christmas.  You see, she never really wants anything save a new house which I simply am not in a position to get her.  With God's grace, maybe sometime, but it will be by his grace.  So, I struggle to find her gifts because we have what we need which mind you is a blessing most in this World don't have.  So one bitterly cold blustery morning, she wanted a warm coat.  She came to realize she had cute coats, but not a really warm one (you know the kind that makes you look like a bloated penquin but is good enough you could sleep in your freezer with it on).  Well, the weather isn't much better.  She sure could use that coat now.  But, if I gave it to her now, what would she open on Christmas (mind you she picked it, dragged me to the store and tried it on)?  We do this with lots of things too. 

I think you need this so I might as well give it to you on Christmas gift. 

In some ettiquete book, I am convinced that there is a rule that you must get children under the age of 16 at least 16-their current age of presents for Christmas.  If not, the book clearly states you are not a good parent and will feel guilty especially when the nosey neighbor's child gets more gifts.  Mind you, you just got your child a new Gibson guitar because she really does play music. . . and well.  And she really does want (with her drum playing sister) to be in the church band. . . . someday. 

But how would she feel if she only got *gasp*, *wheeze*, *choke* 3 girts this year. 

 So to make Christmas feel more substantial, we give the "I think you need this gifts".  Yes, I am talking about clothing for kids.  Sweaters, jeans (whooo hooo that was fun to get), socks, underwear (you too have that memory), and scarves.  I never did get a swimsuit for Christmas and as I kid, I probably could have used another one!

 Let me remind you that we got one perfect gift on the first Christmas.  Not some random collection of things saved up so when the kids at school asked "What did you get" our kids would have as long a list as Johnny does because we wouldn't want anyone to think we cared less about our children than those miserable agnostics.

Or my favorite. . . .

The Filler Gift

This one I am guilty of despite its utter senlessness.  I have three children all of the same age (yes that does mean they are triplets).  Don't I have to treat them equally?  And what better way to show your love than to ensure that each child has exactly the same number of presents and we spent exactly the same amount of money on each?  And the theory goes downhill (if that is possible) from there.  Before you know it we are asking each other what Virginia would like that is between $10-$20 to add to her "real" gift because you know your brothers spend a full X dollars on your kids and you don't want to be cheap, do you?

 So we move from meaningful gifts that have impact to gifts for the sake of quantity versus quality.  Perhaps we thought that God should have sent an extended family versus an only Son?

Conclusion

 So let me wrap this up.  Gifts are beautiful and Christmas is absolutely about God giving us a gift.  There is absolutely nothing unnatural about parents giveing their children, the right gifts, to reflect this sublime message.  Anticipation of Christams and even of getting a wonderful material gift can be a reflection of the anticipaton Israel had for a Messiah and we have for a returning Christ.  But when anticipation becomes expectation, we pevert the meaning or miss the real gift of love just like so many did with Jesus. 

You see the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.  When are hearts are aligned with God's will and our intentions are pure, then even the most audaciously overcommercialized toy is a beautiful gift to give.  The problem is not how many gifts, how much we spend or who we give gifts to.  The problem is our heart is no longer in Christmas.  Just look under the tree and ask, "Which of these gifts are not heartfelt".  Those should all be returned.   

 Merry Christmas!

Rich

The least of Christians