I'll openly admit that I don't watch much TV, but this month I find myself feeling a bit of a Grinch. Could it be because I keep seeing garbage like this:
Yep, completely thoughtless gifts. "I'd like it so you must like it too." Classic.
Then there is...
"No one ever wished for a smaller gift."
There are countless other commercials that I find very annoying and somewhat offensive. This years commercials aren't on youtube yet. My point is that with the bad case of gimme that kids get this time of year, the idea that only an expensive gift says "I love you", and the you might not get the gift you want so buy it for yourself now attitude are disgusting to me. That yucky feeling is all around in stores right now, check out the black friday craziness!!!
It leads me to wonder are we celebrating
Christmas
or
Giftsmas!
I hope that in all the craziness of this holiday season we are each able to feel the true spirit of Christmas. To reflect on the birth of our savior Jesus Christ.
And may I just say my experience this year has firmed up my resolve to NEVER shop for gifts after Thanksgiving ever again.
4 comments:
Just one more reason to ditch the tv in favor of library dvd's. Most shows come out on dvd anyway. Although, I have to say that it looks like this year, if i don't wrap something for myself no one else will. I got Matthew a sleeping bag, some books, and I have been making him snowballs out of worn out and stained shirts for indoor snowball fights.
Thank You Skye! I completely agree. We've been researching Christmas traditions in other countries, and I could be wrong, but it sounds like the US is the most commercialized by far. I don't think there is anything wrong with giving/getting gifts--but it just seems like we try to do more and more and the reason behind Christmas is forgotten or left behind. Instead of feeling gratitude for the many blessings we have been given we are left feeling like we need more and can't be happy unless we meet the world's standards of material "happiness." Not to mention that the last them my kids (or me) need are more toys that I end up nagging at everyone because they are left all over the house! Let us all celebrate the birth and mission of Christ and find ways to give Him presents this year!
Molly--I think the t-shirt snowball fight sounds fabulous!
I agree with you, Skye. There are commercials that are putting Santa down and showing people one-upping him. And for some reason that makes me sad. If Santa is being pushed out of Christmas, where does that put Christ?
I want to say something soothing and possibly profound here but it's just not coming easy :) I'm grateful for the traditions that have evolved naturally in our family where we give more than we get, and even the giving doesn't break the bank.
I have been feeling a lot of Christmas magic this year, and I'm still trying to figure out just why so I can hold on to it. So far I think it has to do with being close to my family, celebrating with my kids (Zeke has been soooo much fun this year!), and only occasionally observing the commercial parts from afar (very far).
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