xmas eve ruminations.......

i really like getting gifts for people.......remembering those little times during the year that they mentioned in passing things they'd like, but forget they told you and are surprised you remembered when they open their gifts on xmas......i sometimes think those people who have a hard time finding gifts for people just aren't listening hard enough.......because it's harder to buy something for someone you don't talk to as regularly as those you are closer to.......it's because you know what's important in their life......you just need to listen......that's my opinion anyway......

while i do enjoy the gift giving, every year somewhere along the line you get caught up in the franticness of it all........the "only X number of shopping days left till xmas" ness.......when you lose sight of what's important and start considering buying those stupid gadgets on endcaps at cvs.......like a flashing toenail clipper with a red sox emblem on it that's a bottle opener too.......

but let's try not to forget that it's not about the gifts........at all really........i mean you can't realistically show up on xmas morning without anything for your family and friends to open, but you get so wrapped up in buying buying buying that you forget what the day's really about.......it's a celebration of jesus' birthday......and about his teachings of love one another and be nice to one another and take care of one another........you don't need to have a religious bone in your body to follow that advice........it's hard to do.......much harder than just picking up a gift certificate at the mall........but that's what the day's about........next year i'll try to remember all that before i'm reminded of it at xmas eve mass.......because as with every year i got sucked into the marketing side of xmas and i don't think i took enough time to love one another, be nice to one another, and take care of one another this holiday season........