Instant Gratification

Recently, a friend lamented to me that shopping for people was difficult because knowing what to get was practically impossible. I heard her out and tried to be supportive in the moment by offering suggestions for the people for whom she mentioned needing gifts. As the day went on, I began to ponder why shopping for others can be so difficult, because the truth is, I tend to agree. When my pondering was complete, my conclusion was, no one is in need or want of anything’.

I remember when I was a kid, it did not seem as though things were as readily available to people as they are today. It used to be that if someone needed or wanted something they saved up and earned it before they bought it. These days however it seems that if people want or need something, they just go buy it…whether they can afford it or not. Yes, the days of waiting and putting needed and wanted items on a Christmas or birthday list seem to be a thing of the slower, treasured past.

As I continued pondering, I thought about the gifts the Magi gave to Jesus; they were gifts with deep meaning. Gold to represent kingship on earth. Jesus, The King, left heaven and came to earth to make it possible for anyone to be able to go to Heaven. Frankincense to represent deity. Even though Jesus came as a human, He was still divine; God on Earth. Myrrh to represent death. Did the Magi understand what would happen to Jesus 30-some years later? I don’t know, but they certainly had to think that gift through, because really, who gives “death oil” to a child?

So, when I considered that the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas tyme and for birthdays stems from the Magi bringing gifts to Jesus, I couldn’t help but think that sometimes we just want to give a gift to make someone “feel happy”, but we don’t really know enough about the person to give a meaningful gift. It would seem then that the real gift we could give is the gift of our tyme and conversation in order to get to know the person.

Now, I’m sure we are not as callus as I might be making us to seem, but I am trying to illustrate that a fast-paced life with any and everything we want and need at our fingertips can really make the holiday season difficult. While I’m sure that Instant Gratification has its place and isn’t all bad, I do think it tends to make us less appreciative of what we have and what we receive. I think when we have that “well, I can just buy more” mentality, our ability to be grateful deteriorates and makes it harder for others to bless us with meaningful and helpful gifts and for us to do likewise. I don’t know about you, but there is something about thinking of someone I love, and coming up with a gift that I know he or she will really enjoy, that makes me truly happy.

So, if the “Holiday Buying Season” is bringing you down, stressing you out, making you feel like you don’t have enough to give or causing you any type of angst, I challenge you to slow down and reevaluate. Make a phone call. Have a conversation. Learn something new about the person you’re having trouble shopping for and go from there.

The fact is, no gift can even begin to compare to The Gift God gave to all when He sent His only Son to earth to become The Way of Salvation. Still, for whatever reason, many have not yet opened God’s gift. Other, worldly gifts appear more exciting and take attention and intentions away from where true happiness begins. So, when you think about it, perhaps the best gift we can give is to remind others about God’s gift and spend tyme sharing in the joy of the season; after all, Jesus is The Reason!