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December 14, 2009
Jimmy Young
Christmas songs hum through the speakers before Thanksgiving, foreshadowing the winter holidays that fall into place. Malls brim with scurrying shoppers as they sift through the countless stores filled with Christmas paraphernalia.
Modern society has mutated the definition of Christmas to the point where the price of a gift represents the measure of the quality of friendship.
Nowadays, when we think of Christmas, the images of beautifully-wrapped presents dance through our heads. We think about what our friends and families will give us—wait, scratch that, we already told them what to buy for us. Furthermore, we have days like Black Friday designated for “early Christmas shopping.” Some companies require their employees to work extra hours because there just aren’t enough people trampled every year.
We are vicious creatures when it comes to snatching a 42-inch plasma high-definition television and maybe even several laptops for your father. Materialism has never blossomed so excessively.
What ever happened to running to your perfectly-wrapped presents and letting imagination drift through your mind as the excitement accumulates on Christmas morning? What ever happened to putting thought into a gift and creating something that represents the appreciation of friendship and love?
Imagine getting a present that wasn’t so great, like a pair of socks or that hideous wool sweater your grandma knitted for you, but the memory has always been there. Maybe those presents have practical uses.
Don’t remember the present as a “bad gift.” Instead, remember it for the solid and concrete memories that it helped to create. It is better than the expensive sweater in the crowded wardrobe.
This is one of the few times one can sincerely thank loved ones. Make it count. Don’t let the Grinch steal your Christmas.
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