The Joy of Shopping is (or can be) the Joy of Giving

Last updated on: November 30, 2019 at 5:44 am by John Mark N. Reynolds

The Joy of Shopping is (or can be) the Joy of Giving 2019-11-29T21:57:45-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The person I knew most consumed with money and material things was an ideologue who could enjoy nothing, because they were continuously upset about money and material things. They would rant at even a whiff of gift giving, because all they could see was evil.

Evidently they believed it was more blessed not to give and not to receive. They should have let Jesus know. Christmas is a great excuse to give gifts and one hopes everyone will give as much as possible: to the poor, to family, to charity- thoughtfully, generously, joyfully.

Feasting can lead to gluttony, a good wine to a binge, and love to lust. Nothing is so good that it cannot be spoilt and gift giving is one such thing. Whilst nobody gives up on eating, drinking, or love as they are too vital, some pretend we can or should give up on gift giving.

We did not shop on Black Friday. Why? We were too busy decorating and engaging in other Holiday jollification. Meanwhile, the Scrooges will be out in full force soon to tell us why shopping is bad, because consumerism, materialism, and, for all I know, Rosicrucianism.

Let’s agree:

Consumerism is bad. Do not live to consume.

Materialism is bad. Stuff will not make you happy.

Rosicrucianism? That’s simply mad. There is an infallible rule that a sentence (not referring to such sentences) containing both the words “Atlantis” and Rosicrucian is fascinatingly insane.

If you do not know and live this, start. None of this should cause you to avoid the gift of giving and of shopping.

So as you shop, as you buy jolly gifts, avoid buying useless stuff nobody needs, clean out stuff you do not need while you buy, and give generously to charity. That is what Advent is designed to do!

Meanwhile, plot and plan on thoughtful gifts to bring joy to family, friends, and neighbors. Plan a party, read a play together, give the gift of time, but do not be afraid to bring material gifts. All year I figure just what will make Hope, the Fairest Flower in Christendom, happy on Christmas Day. She abhors waste, does not like spending too much money, but loves music, thoughtfulness, and useful things. I have gotten her power tools, kitchen mixers, musical instruments for The School and College, and an assortment of other jolly stuff. My (now adult) children are a pleasure to honor with something thoughtful: clothing, games for some organized fun, or a vacation together.

My dad and mom taught me the joy of giving with the corollary duty to shop as a boy. Dad told me about Christmas at the end of the Depression and the start of World War II. Mom’s mother, our Nana, was splendid at Christmas. The gifts were simple, but she wrote Christmas pageants and enjoyed the season as much as anyone I have known. The cost of the gift does not matter at all. Hope and I have never tried to balance monetary value in what we give. We get what people need or what might change their lives for the better.

Does a family member need a laptop for school? Ebay beckons to buy a used, but awesome tool.

The joy of giving comes from anticipation and participation. When I get an excellent gift, I get to anticipate Hope receiving it: joy! If I have chosen wisely, then I get to see the joy of the gift being used (often for years). Sometimes I have done . . . Poorly. . .as in the early days of our marriage when an expensive suit of clothes was the wrong size and a friend got the gift. Jolly good fun and a great story in the more expanded version.

(Two rules from this story for the early gift giver looking at clothing:

1. Women’s sizes are very, very odd. If your beloved is a size 2, then the size 2 you buy may actually be a size 4. Trust your eyes.

2. The sales clerk at the typical store is not the same age, lacks the same taste or background as your beloved. Do not trust her . . . Do not.)

Our failures have been as excellent as our successes as they made good gifts to friends or simply existed as legendary failures.

Culture

Previous Post

November 29, 2019

Conquer

Next Post

December 1, 2019 On the Hero Versus the King or God

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Apologetics Art Culture Education On Books On Education Philosophy Politics Pop Culture Spiritual Reflections Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 July 2025 June 2025 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 December 2023 June 2023 September 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What Christian holiday celebrates Jesus' resurrection?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Pentecost Christmas Good Friday Easter

Books by This Author John Mark Reynolds

See All Titles »