I was thinking about my need to do some Christmas shopping and came across this online question. What should you not buy someone else for Christmas? Here are some of the answers: socks, underwear, lingerie, a scale, a cemetery plot, deodorant, kitchen stuff, exercise equipment, a book on dieting, or a vacuum cleaner. I don’t disagree with any of those, but that doesn’t help me figure out what I do want to buy!
I go through this every year. Every December, I find myself ready for Christmas in all the spiritual ways. I love the story of hope, the carols, the candles, the warm glow of goodwill, and even preparing for Advent events and Christmas Eve services. But there’s always that one little earthly assignment that tries to steal my joy. Shopping.
For some people, Christmas shopping is a sport. They train for it. They know the “right” thing for every person on their list, they search out which store has the best deal on each item, and they have figured out the exact hour to strike every store. They are highly coordinated seasonal ninjas!
I, on the other hand, would rather untangle a box of Christmas lights from 1998 than enter a crowded store the month before Christmas. But here I am, once again, having to step into “retail wonderlands” where I will stand in the aisles staring at options and wondering whether I should punt and go with cash or gift cards. Like I did last year. And the year before that.
But then, I remember what Christmas really is: a celebration of God coming near. It’s love wrapped in humanity, hope embracing the ordinary, joy born in a stable. Suddenly, the stress of picking the perfect gift becomes… smaller. Not unimportant, but not the centerpiece.
The strange, stressful rituals of shopping, baking, and planning are part of the story. We stress because we want to bring joy. We wrap because we care. They are all little acts of Christmas love.
So, I guess the main point of this meditation this morning is, remember this: it doesn’t have to be perfect. A little love wrapped in imperfection sounds a lot like the first Christmas, doesn’t it?
“Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14). That’s the main thing and the only thing that matters.
Prayer: Lord, help me carry the joy of Christ into every part of this season, even the parts I’d rather skip. May my shopping, wrapping, and celebrating reflect your love, given freely in Jesus. Amen.
