Christmas shopping is done. Gifts are wrapped. Now we wait, with anticipation, for the unwrapping. I start shopping early (August) because I take time to carefully consider each person on my list. The kids are easy. I save them for last, but because I want to get everyone something they will appreciate, I find the entire holiday shopping gig a bit stressful.

“It’s the thought that counts,” right? But that is exactly my point. I want my gift to demonstrate thought.

The Santa side of Christmas thrives on the multitude of options available to elicit joyous expressions on the faces of small children Christmas morning. An oversized stuffed animal, legos, a life like doll, or (in the case of my nephew this year) roller skate sneakers. I upgraded to the ones designed like a red race car. They even have headlights that light up. It doesn’t matter that he is five and those shoes cost more than any pair I’ve ever bought for myself, or that he will outgrow them in 6 months. I know on Christmas morning when he opens that box, my gift will look like the greatest present EVER, at least until he opens the next one…

“Tis better to give than to receive” is easy to believe in when the kids are happy.

Recreating the same joy and excitement for adults is nearly impossible. With my mom, crying was a positive outcome. I would have preferred a smile, but tears were her form of genuine emotional expression. Dad, always quiet and serene, reveals his true opinion through action. The longer he hangs onto a gift without setting it aside, the greater the success. My brother offers a snarky comment for each gift he opens (except the ones from his wife), but to never achieve an awestruck reaction from grown ups is disappointing- especially after putting in four times the effort. Is it time to give up my quest and get gift cards for everyone?

“We must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.” (The Harry Potter series shares a lot of universal truths).

I don’t want to gift like a hack. Bah humbug to the safe/generic present. This year, like every year I remind myself that the non-Santa side of the holiday is about the birth of Jesus. We share gifts in recognition for the gift we (Christians) were given by the birth of God’s son, and since nothing I can buy in a store is going to top the gift of life, my giving should simply strive to reflect the love I feel for those receiving (even if they aren’t jumping up and down with joy).

True expressions of love, in any form, are the only gifts that really matter. Merry Christmas to all.