Every Good and Perfect Gift

It seems beautifully fitting that on the day we celebrate the greatest gift the world has ever known, we in turn exchange gifts with those we love.

I’ve heard it said that there is too much consumerism, too much self-centered focus on Christmas, when the season is about thanking God for sending his son, Jesus, into the world. It’s hard to argue with that. It’s also outstandingly clear there’s far too much consumerism everywhere. Yesterday, I went to Jumbo, which is exactly the way it sounds. And I was appalled by the attitudes of the shoppers. People were pushing others out of their way, jabbing their carts through, running over clothes, and pretending like there were no other people around them. Yes – consumerism is at its finest. Consumerism is at its height.

This morning, my two little kids sat on the couch in our small cabin house, watching morning cartoons. Each of them sat with their pillows, cuddled with their blankets (the ones they’ve had from birth, which smell like they’ve been dragged across the world. Oh right, they have been.) Emma said to Lucas, “Tonight we get to open one gift.”

Lucas said to her, “No. Because Tia Marcela and Tio Carlos are coming. They’ll bring a gift too.” And tears ballooned up in my eyes. I swiped them away before anyone noticed. I didn’t start to cry because I was thinking my kids are too selfish and shouldn’t be thinking about presents … My eyes welled up with tears because of how precious and innocent it was, how assured they are of their parents’ love, of their family’s kindness in their lives … of course there would be gifts.

Later on, Emma picked up a present with laughter in her eyes. “You can open this one tonight, mommy. This is the one I want you to open!” She’s just as excited to give me my gift as she is to receive hers. (That might be an overstatement, but you get what I’m trying to say.)

I grew up in a family with limited resources. Quite limited resources. We were given gifts about two times a year: our birthdays and on Christmas. Christmas morning was the most wonderful time of the year for me and my sisters. And we knew it wasn’t easy for our parents. They had to save, scrimp, and sacrifice to make it a morning of plenty. My mom did a wonderful job of delighting in her gift-giving and teaching us girls to delight in giving good things, in giving the gifts we wanted to have, and in being grateful for the gifts we were given. Such gifts as that special baby doll, those cool pair of jeans that everyone had, the brand new Bible, the jelly bracelets all the girls wore.

My dad would head out on Christmas eve and buy each of us his own present, usually something that had nothing to do with the Christmas list. But, it was his way of taking part, of showing that he was present, that he wanted to give a good gift to his daughters and wife.

Perhaps it was because of the effort I witnessed every year on my parents limited budget, and how happy they were to give their daughters a few of the items on their most treasured Christmas lists, but I’m thankful my kids want presents on Christmas morning. I’m grateful for the wonder, the excitement, the energy … and I’m thankful they went shopping with their dad and his money to give me a few gifts.

Annual gift giving teaches us generosity. It teaches us how to give and it shows us the importance of receiving. Both are important pieces of our humanity.

Generosity is far more important than I ever understood. It’s a good foundation for a stable society, and when it is lacking in a culture – you feel it, in a most frustrating way. When generosity is lacking in a part of the society people lack a sense of grace, of caring for their neighbor. And when it is a part of one’s culture, a part of one’s structure and way of life – everyone is blessed.

I read on Facebook that my friend was in line to buy a coffee and the person in front of her bought her coffee for her. I love it. And I want to be like that, want my children to be like that.

In order to teach generosity we need to model both ends of it. We need to model giving, and we need to model the utter delight of receiving.

Merry Christmas,

Tina