This is the time when the crowds of “purpose driven” shoppers attack store racks, track latest games, pursue latest playstations, x-boxes and other popular gadgets. Every now and then, lonely shoppers stop at the sidewalk and looking right and left, showing signs of frustration, confusion or desperation and proceed to the customer service. No wander average consumer will spend around $800 for Christmas gifts.

Books, CD’s, sophisticated toys, TV sets, Computers, printers, cameras, anything from $5 up to $800 in average will be swept from major retail stores. Most serious shoppers will exchange items in few stores around 2-3 times in order to get real bargain.

Others will enjoy Internet shopping, with nervous customer service calls. With attractive deal “Items guaranteed to be delivered on or before December 24” Internet shopper will click “Buy” without even checking on credit card balance. Convenience of Internet shopping will fade upon Christmas arriving. “The size is wrong”, “Battery is not included?”, “Color was better on the picture”, “This was suppose to be made in Italy”- these and other topics will captivate their minds on the Christmas dinner.

We are all caught up in “shopping rush” and mostly forget things that matter most in our lives, families, friends and most of all God. I remember one Christmas day my dad put my brother and me in the sled and was pulling around sleeping town. Snowflakes were melting on our faces and no one was much happier than us. We laughed and joked, trying to put dad into the sled and pull it together. Occasionally dad would overturn sled so we could have some fun in a foot deep snow. Latter, before going to the bad dad will tell us a real Christmas Story. It starts like this “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows:..”

All the gifts were given at the church, mostly sweets and candy. It happen that there were more kids than gifts almost every Christmas and I always would find a kid who was less fortunate, and gave him my precious candy box. On the way home, mom would complain that this Christmas again her kids did not have gifts. All I would think is that I had more than I needed and my gift made someone to smile.

The real gift is a hug, handshake, smile, warm wishes, phone call and sincere letter. Parent’s presence could be the best gift to a child. Christmas dinner at home will leave memorable moments in someone’s heart.

This Christmas look around who maybe less fortunate than you, who is looking for little help, it could be that someone just want you to listen or someone in another country who is dreaming to have a shoe box with goodies from US. Would you please make sure that one more soul got warmer, and one more kid got happier.

We all tend to forget the Best Gift Ever and material gifts help us to substitute our real feelings, our world is turning around us and centered on us. But stop and listen it is angel’s choir that proclaiming Best Gift Ever –God’s Grace in Jesus Christ.

“ Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men”

Vladimir Dubchak
www.efamilyfinance.com
Would you tell anyone that Christ is The Best Gift Ever!
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