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Commentary

By Liz Quirin

The 'Positives of Christmas Preparations

People are generally getting a bad reputation for the secularization of Christmas, of ignoring Advent, prayer and faith-filled preparation for Christmas. I believe this is a classic example of overemphasizing the negatives and ignoring the positives of Christmas preparations.

By and large, we can’t shop until we drop because we can’t afford it, no matter what the sale price says. This year, more than many other years, we’re all being more careful about our purchases, and thinking more pointedly about the value of a gift we purchase or make for someone.

Case in point: I wanted to make family calendars for everyone, but after spending an hour or two selecting the right photos for the calendar, typing in birthdays and anniversaries in the right months and placing an order for the calendar, I discovered each calendar would cost $26.00 and change. I just couldn’t afford that. My son, who has now become much more “family friendly” and who wanted one of those calendars to keep track of said birthdays and anniversaries, declined to purchase his own. “Mom, I want a calendar like that, but not for $26.00. My sentiments exactly. However, since I had put so much time into arranging the photos and dates, I ordered one of them. In the time I spent with the photos and the dates, I thought of each one of my relatives and some of the times we spent together, earlier birthdays and family gatherings. It brought home the importance of family, of time spent together and of the promise of more special moments for us in the coming year.

Shopping also gives a chance to think more carefully about a gift for these people who are so special to us, what we know about them and what we wish for them in the days ahead.

A niece who shows artistic talent will receive drawing paper and pencils to practice her budding talents. A son who has moved into his first apartment will be able to try his hand at cooking with a new recipe book. A daughter who gives me a specific list will find one surprise under the tree, something not on her list that she may want to return the very next day but a surprise nevertheless.

Besides shopping, many folks are scanning family recipes and preparing those special Christmas cookies to share with family and friends. The Vasquez family (see story on page 7) has been gathering for more than 30 years for a day of baking and sharing.

During these weeks preceding the birth of our Savior, people everywhere are preparing for this important event when families gather to celebrate what is always the same yet ever new. We enrich our faith as we renew and strengthen our relationships during this Advent season.