A Gift Made in Kind
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My one woman boycott of Christmas died November 5, 2010 after a 17 year struggle with the paganism commercialization of the holiday. If you know me you know I boycott just about everything just for the sake of no risking being indoctrinated. Most of the boycotts are without merit and I have forgotten why I boycotted them in the first place. But my boycott of Christmas I remember clearly. You see I dug deep into my soul to MAKE a gift for the man I was dating at the time. I spent weeks on a poem and a drawing. When it was done I framed it in a 16 x 20 picture frame
. I presented it to him and he was not pleased. His thought, better yet he verbalized, “I just knew you were going to get me something Polo.” I was devastated as his rant continued on about him sacrificing to save up for my gift, a $90 stuffed animal by Gund
. I flew out the day after and bought a hat and sweater and Fedexed it for the next day.
. I presented it to him and he was not pleased. His thought, better yet he verbalized, “I just knew you were going to get me something Polo.” I was devastated as his rant continued on about him sacrificing to save up for my gift, a $90 stuffed animal by Gund. I flew out the day after and bought a hat and sweater and Fedexed it for the next day.I spent the last 11 years preaching to my girls that we will not celebrate Christmas in the traditional sense. No tree no exchanging gifts. Instead do for others. Every year they have given gifts to someone less fortunate than they were. For Christmas of 2009 we decided to give to a little girl in our building. We would always see her dressed with clothing too small, shoes to big, and spring dresses in the winter with knee high socks
. So we went out and bought her a new coat, tights galore, boots, pants, turtlenecks, gloves, hat scarf, and placed it at her door. I never saw her smile so big. But apparently I offended her father. The child’s mother wanted my girls’ sizes so she could get them a few things. Even though I insisted it was not necessary she insisted that her husband insisted it was.
. So we went out and bought her a new coat, tights galore, boots, pants, turtlenecks, gloves, hat scarf, and placed it at her door. I never saw her smile so big. But apparently I offended her father. The child’s mother wanted my girls’ sizes so she could get them a few things. Even though I insisted it was not necessary she insisted that her husband insisted it was.And here we are 2010. I sat my girls down and asked them if they wanted to have a tree this year and exchange gifts. Gracie in all her infinite wisdom said, “It’s not about retrieving it’s about giving.” [Yes she said retrieving.] Rose sat quietly as I explained to Gracie I wasn’t interested in the answer that sounded right. I then told her if she felt it was truly not about receiving then don’t feel bad if nothing is under the tree for her. Her reply, “Ok, ok let’s exchange gifts.” Within minutes Rose had compiled a short and sweet wish list, while Gracie’s was altered weekly.
The gifts are beginning to pile under the tree as the girls ooo and ah about who has a box with their name on it. There are stockings with all of our names on them and they are filling up nicely. The man in my life asks for nothing but good, hot, food and a little less nagging. Yet the best part of this holiday is that the gifts that my children are giving are all handcrafted, made from within.
I totally agree with you! I am on that bandwagon with you and Rev. Billy!
What an inspirational post. I too felt like you, for the longest time, that's why I only exchange gifts with my immediate family, and my best friend! I came up with a quote that says...the greatest gift you can give, is "yourself". It means so much to people if we share gifts of our self, and touch the hearts of others!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!