There's Hope For TodaySample

Christmas shouldn’t be hampered by a sluggish economy. If the quantity of gifts measures our Christmas, we’re in sorry shape indeed. Sure, it’s great to choke the tree with gifts and clothe the season in generosity, but things often become a substitute for love and kindness, time and touch, presence and attention.

Over time, more than half of our gifts are hidden in drawers or trundled out to the dumpster. “Hey, let’s buy the preacher that picture of the praying hands.” I can’t throw away “praying hands.” That would be … well, sacrilegious. I’ve got ceramic praying hands, paintings of praying hands, wood-carved praying hands, and praying hands that rotate and play “Sweet Hour of Prayer.” By midlife, we’re overwhelmed with clutter. By late life, our families wonder what to do with the “stuff” when we’re gone. Most of us don’t need more stuff. We need more room.

Yet tradition and convention lead us back to the stores on the not-so-merry Christmas chase to find another perfect gift to give in the finest holiday tradition. Don’t think of me as a “Scrooge” for suggesting that we ramp down the gift glut. The best gifts of all are not shrink-wrapped or barcoded, and God is not honored by our debts.