Liz and I have wildly swung like mental hobgoblins on this existential threat to “the Reason for the Season.” Some years we do the gift, other years we do not do the gift (hard Christmas for me), and then there’s the occasional year we use all our Christmas monies for other peoples gifts (very hard Christmas for me).
Recently we chatted with friends deciding against “Mall Christmas,” and choosing instead a form of “Christ Christmas.” Part of the decision means, among many things, no gifts forever, whatsoever, on Christmas. Oh, and to add to the horror they have three kids, all between the ages of “gifts are awesome” and “gifts make the year go round.”
Now before you get all uppity and declare them “lame’ish something or another’s” let me clarify. They’re not gift averse, the gift is good, especially for birthdays, bar mitzvah’s, and moon walks, but when it comes to December 25th the equation tends to look something like this:
Baby Jesus’s Birthday + Gifts for Ourselves = Something Lost in Translation.
I believe the Little Drummer Boy actually sings more than just a little bit of truth concerning the topic at hand. For instance, the Little Drummer Boy doesn’t fret over his Xmas list, or Xmen, or a full kit to go with his lonely snare. His thoughts are focused on what he’s got to give a King, which isn’t much he reckons, so he sings profundity, “I’ll play my drum for you.”
I’ll give the King my passion… my talents… my time…
Perhaps over all the seasonal debris and associated mental constipation we should be asking ourselves a similar question
What will I give a King?
Image Credit: Hemlocks @ deviantart.com
