Are we really thinking jolly? Have we all lost our minds?  The Christmas season can be jolly if we change our way of thinking.

I’ve worked in retail during the holidays for many years, and believe me when I express that human behaviors are not conducive to having a happy time. People fight over parking spaces and who’s next in line. I had a customer who was at least 80 years old, in poor health and felt obligated to purchase 50 different gifts for her family located in different states. If that’s not enough, a lot of men who have no idea what to buy or even have the desire to join the madness will pick up anything just to keep peace in their homes.  The common thread from men year after year is a desire to please even knowing their loved one will return the item as they have done in previous years. Baby carriages with infants less than a month old and children crying as they walk through the stores. People stressed out from all this delusion with lists upon lists of gifts they have to purchase.

Hustling and bustling through the malls decorated lavishly, Christmas music playing to set the mood and digital billboards drawing ones attention to sales upon sales to entice the shoppers. Tired people everywhere waiting on lines with several items hoping that they made the right choices. Caught up in a whirlwind of spending, setting them financially backwards for another year. Gifts are wrapped and delivered, finally Christmas day arrives with beautiful packages wrapped under the tree. Stress is somewhat relieved by the smiles of loved ones as they open their package.  In retail, the day after Christmas is our biggest day of returns. Some of us are not happy with our presents. Whatever happened to just being thankful?

So what’s the point?  I have come to realize people’s hearts are in the right place but a feeling of obligation clouds their judgement. Folks are spending money they don’t even have in order to make their loved ones happy. Some of us are looking for love in all the wrong places. Most consumers are going through the motion but are not entirely ecstatic. I am not a Grinch, I love Christmas just like everybody else but I believe we are going about it in the wrong way. Keeping it simple and not going overboard during the holidays would be my recommendations. Reduce your list and consider a grab bag alternative. Focus on the things that are really important and get rid of the guilt you feel if you don’t buy someone a gift. Showing love and kindness all through the year is more important than how much you spend on a gift during the holidays. Give to others who are more in need and do it in the name of someone you care about. Think of valuable ways you can share Gods blessing. Why do we keep giving to those who are already blessed with so much more?

Christmas or the season of Christmas is about reflecting on the birth of Jesus, our lord and savior. He is the greatest gift to mankind and therefore, our focus for the season should be on what he represents. Love and hope for a better future and saving those who believe from their sins. Going forward, let’s rethink how we go about celebrating Jesus’ birth.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16