Don’t you hate it when stores release Christmas stuff way before the Christmas season, even before Thanksgiving? If you do, you’re a lot like my wife Angie. If someone sends me an ad or a sales pitch about some special Christmas gift, I respect what they are doing, and, especially with today’s economy, their need to get a jump on Christmas sales when those sales are likely to be the largest percent of their annual volume. That doesn’t mean I like it, it just means that I understand it. Nevertheless when my wife Angie gets one of those, her usual response is to post the ad with one of those little rubberized magnets on the refrigerator as a reminder not to buy a Christmas gift from them. That may sound a little harsh, but here’s what she said to me.

“Shopping seems to be the only thing we think about at Christmas these days. Shopping is necessary, and is a big part of Christmas, but it shouldn’t be the main part. We should be thinking more about the giving than the shopping. Retailers should think some about that too. If they come out with all their Christmas stuff two months before Christmas, Santa stations with elves set up, long lines of children waiting to tell Santa all they want for Christmas, with all the bump and tug, it puts too much emphasis on buying and selling.

“We draw names and buy Christmas gifts, not just for the kids, but for everyone, presents are wrapped, stockings are hung, all this hustle and bustle and commercialization of the season are far removed from the simple idea of being together as a family or with friends just to count our blessings. This entire obsession with trees, and presents, and Santa Claus can obscure the marvelous truth in each person’s heart, the gifts of spirit, sharing and warmth. Currently, it’s little more than beggars beg and spenders spend, drinkers drink and vendors vend, or something like that-however that ancient rhyme goes.

“Then as soon as the 26th rolls around the stores are open with slashed prices to attract more shopping they hope will last until the next season. Then those Christmas gifts are exchanged or returned, gift certificates are redeemed, yadda yadda yadda. The truth about Christmas would come out if you took away all the gifts,” she says. “Stuff the stockings and that would be it. Then we could get a fresh start. Then we could add gifts as a way to show real feeling, or benevolence or as a symbol of God’s gift.” Then she concludes with the question, “Don’t you agree with me, Walker?”

I didn’t answer. I can understand my wife Angie’s point of view, and I’ve learned not to argue a point about which she feels strongly, or any other point come to think of it. Having said that, I see no harm in offering advice to people like me who sometimes neglect Christmas gift shopping until Christmas Eve. It’s just a reminder, it’s not like we’re being sold anything, at least not at that time. We all know that stores must sell Christmas trees, lights, ornaments and other Christmas stuff-if they would just not begin the process until after Thanksgiving dinner is served.

But ask yourself, where would we be if businesses who sell Christmas gifts had to wait until a specified time to begin to sell those gifts? They sell most of this stuff throughout the year, not just at Christmas time. People buy this stuff every day for one reason or another. What’s wrong with a little reminder now and then? I see their point, and I don’t mind it. My wife Angie though, she’ll head for the refrigerator door like lightning when a Christmas ad, er reminder, comes in the mail. As for me I’ve been known to sneak over there from time to time to get a reminder about a Christmas gift I need to buy.

When I decided not to argue with my wife Angie’s point of view, I also found it a good practice to apologize in advance if I don’t agree with everything she says. And I know she is going to see this. So here I am, disagreeing and apologizing at the same time. My only hope is that I get forgiveness for one or the other, not to mention both.

If you’d like to see more about Christmas banjos click here, or visit me at papasboxes.com to see some of those reminders I talked about.

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