Christmas and Money

Children look forward to Christmas because of the things they hope to receive. Adults often do not look forward to Christmas because of the things they feel obliged to give. If you have not the means to give gifts, then the feelings might be even more unpleasant. But, perhaps there needs to be a shift in how we think of gifts, in order that Christmas time might be one of joy for everyone.

It occurs to me that there are some things that money can buy and others that it cannot buy. For instance, money can allow one to purchase products that will cause illness, but it cannot, for any price purchase good health. When we buy health insurance, we think we are buying health, but health insurance is really just speculation or gambling. You are betting that you will be ill and require medical attention and the insurance company is betting that you will not. The more medical attention you require the more you are required to pay. But, paying more health insurance does not insure good health. Health is something that comes with patient, knowledgeable care of the body, good eating habits, and a host of other things, all having to do more with knowledge and self-discipline than with money.

Peace is another commodity that cannot be purchased with any amount of wealth. Money can purchase weapons, bribe leaders, coerce populations, cause, promote and foster war, but it has no power to bring peace because peace is a quality or a gift of the heart. Peace in the individual or in a nation is built upon principles of trust, truth, hope, equality, freedom etc. None of these things can be bought with money.

Then too, you can spend a lot of money, hiring any amount of people you can name, traveling the world over, giving millions of dollars to individuals and organizations, finding many people willing to attach themselves to you because of your money and never find a true friend. The history of the world is full of accounts of the wealthy and powerful being surrounded by those who would share in their wealth. However, flattery, betrayal, conspiracy, murder, strife, envy, duplicity and every vice imaginable are connected with great wealth and power. With all that wealth, they could not purchase happiness, peace, freedom, security or health for themselves or their children.

In our daily struggle to live and survive in the modern world, I think we forget some of the lessons of the past. We think that if we can purchase something big for our children, our spouse, our friends or our relatives that somehow we will be loved and appreciated more. As though we could give and receive love through an x-box or a box of chocolate. But, just as wood does not conduct electricity, so x-boxes or chocolate or any other material thing, do not convey love. Love is carried in the person; the eyes, the heart, the feelings, the countenance. Any other method is bogus and counterfeit.

The trouble with buying gifts is that it is so easy to do. Anyone can go to a store and purchase a thing to give to someone. It is much more difficult to cultivate, acquire and share gifts of real value, such as love, hope, compassion, vision, help, warmth, joy, closeness, beauty or peace. These can be shared, just as the store-bought gifts can be, but they are more lasting, more meaningful and of infinitely greater value. Certainly, where necessities of life are needed, necessities ought to be given. To give trinkets where food is needed would be an insult. But to give anything else where love is most needed would be a tragedy.