Which gift to give

If I could change one thing during this season I think it would be these damned commercials.  You know the ones.  The diamond ring commercials that play on people's insecurities to sell glittering rocks and shiny metals.  This will make her love you, or forgive you, or make her child accept you as their new daddy.

The other commercials you may not know so well unless you watch SpongeBob SquarePants (said 3 times) like I do.  It's the toy commercials targeting young children and yours truly.  Yes, I too want a Furby (the new one not the old junky one), a Y Fliker (pronounce carefully) and an Amazing Spider-Man Mega Blaster Web Shooter w/ Glove.

Who could have predicted that those three well meaning travelers from the East (probably more west for us) would start a tradition that would fuel the materialistic hunger we now see today?  Is your child's love so dependent on what is under the tree that it's worth throwing an elbow in Walmart to get it?

Every once in awhile I hear a quote that sticks in my head and I ponder it for awhile as if to explore every nuance.  This happened this week and yes, I would like to share.  The American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson once said "Rings and jewels are not gifts but apologies for gifts.  The only true gift is a portion of thyself."

As I have been pondering this I have thought back on my life.  I have received my share of gifts over the years, and they have brought me happiness, howbeit temporary.  But the memories of the time that somebody took to spend it with me has brought so much more.

Take my Grandma for instance.  She passed away not long back and I think of her often.  And while she did give me many gifts over the years that is not what rises to the top when I remember her.  No, I remember staying at her house, and waking up to find her cooking breakfast for far more people than were in the house.  I remember playing Phase 10 for hours because she loved it (and cheated at it).  I remember her stories and her beautiful voice as she put on a full production just for me.  A portion of herself is what she gave, and that portion is what I now cherish.

Yes by all means, give gifts, fill stockings and celebrate Christmas but don't stop there.  Give the other half of your gifts...a piece of you.  Plan that trip, send that letter, make that call, have that party.  Share that portion of yourself with the people you cherish, and let that be their treasure from you.