As the holiday season approaches once again, I begin to dread the commercialism that has transformed Christmas from a magical, inspirational, family time to one filled with stress, financial strain and unreasonable expectations. This article reinforced the feelings that I have about the real meaning of giving and the fact that it doesn't need to be limited to this time of year exclusively. It is more important to give from the heart and not necessarily from the pocketbook. A gift of time or sharing of a talent can be inspirational and helpful to others. "A meaningful gift helps define us. And it has the power to shape us."
Christmas gift-giving may be heaven for retailers but it is a nightmare for the buyer. Decisions about what to give when the receiver already has so many material possessions result in the exchange of money or gift certificates or items that are immediately returned by the receiver. Often, we spend hours shopping for the perfect gift only to find that this is an elusive dream. Just thinking of the crowds at the local malls makes me break out in a cold sweat, followed by the realization that not only will I spend more money than I have but I'll have to spend countless hours wrapping everything too. Christmas can quickly become a holiday to dread rather than enjoy.
Unless, we make a choice to rediscover the true meaning of Christmas and change our concept of giving. We need to give from the heart, to reach out to our families and friends, to spend time with those we love and do things that we enjoy together. I remember a different focus during my childhood. Staying up late with my father watching Christmas movies, walking or driving around the neighbourhood admiring the shining lights and seasonal decorations, watching Christmas cartoons endlessly with my sisters, and rolling out Christmas cookies to bake with my mother. None of these memories are centred around the gifts I received nor do I recall in any great detail what that consisted of.
As a musician, one of the things I truly value at this time of year, are the performances and concerts, often at churches, where the real spirit and meaning of Christmas reside. The music, the message and the community spirit remind me why we celebrate this special event and help begin this time with an unparalleled joy and excitement of things to come.
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