I was listening to the Tony Snow radio show this morning, on the way to work, and he mentioned how a very qualified individual had stated that Christmas was in danger of becoming over commercialized and that gift giving and money spending should be modest and the event should be somber.

Tony stated his disagreement and made the point that his gift giving was not about anything but finding something special for someone that would put a smile on their face. He also, said that it is unrealistic to try to make gifts yourself so he suggested outsourcing the task :-) In his opinion gift giving makes the season more special and not less as long as you arn't being unresponsible with your money.

I relected on his logic and found myself agreeing but then I considered the story of Mary and Martha. In the story Martha is frantically trying to make dinner for her guests while Mary is just sitting around listening to another very qualified guest speak. Martha comes out of the kitchen and addresses the speaker and ask him to tell Mary to help with the task.

The speaker points out that Mary has picked the better option and she is within her rights to just sit and listen.

After reflection on this it seems somewhat unfair. Isn't the speaker going to eat the food as well once its cooked? My thought its that there must be something deeper going on here that perhaps I and Tony have missed.

Greg

I may be way off track here but the way I look at it is that the speaker is right.
Folks need to understand that if someone does not want to do something then they have the right not to.
Folks that are doing something need to do it because they want to, not because they feel obligated to.
That’s the problem with the whole concept of the modern Christmas, "obligation.
That’s is what the merchants count on too, every year this happens and it makes me sick.

Folks have the gall to say things to me like, "you don’t have to worry about Christmas you don’t have kids to buy for and, "what do you put a tree up for, you don’t have kids?

To folks like this I say, they are totally out of touch with what the whole concept of the holiday is about, lost in the maelstrom of commercialism and greed, as they were so obediently taught to do.

My rule of give and take are simply give because you want to just to for the act it’s self not to get something back.
When I cook for my friends they are to sit back and drink their beer and enjoy the time off from chores, I don’t ask for help and won’t accept any.
My reward is to sit back and watch the camaraderie that takes place and know that I helped make it happen.
You take things graciously and you should not feel obligated to give in return, that’s what good friends are for and I have had some for over 25 years.

This concept is to go on all year not just on Christmas.

As for making things for gifts I have done it and will do it again.
What person wouldn’t want a nice bookshelf that will last them the rest of their life or a BBQ pit that they always wanted but could not afford?

(Texas BBQ pits can get rather large.)

I have friends that do the same for me and I will always cherish these so called homemade gifts for a long time to come.
These are things that truly come from the heart of a true friend.

Worth

where I come from the speaker woulda been in the kitchen w/ everyone else, keepin the cooks entertained

ya'll just have as good a time as yer situation allows, and do what makes you and yours happy!
take care of each other :)

Bill

I am just being careful about the wording I use to avoid censorship by the caretakers of this forum. Its not what you think; I have no interest in being PC.

My thought about this come from some unusual internal experiences that I have had lately that have made me believe that I am experiencing a special time of grace. It also occured to me that this is the Christmas season and so I wondered if the season is somehow, in part, the cause.

Then we I reflect upon the frantic Martha I can't help but wonder if she is missing out.

But even so someone has to cook ;-)

Greg

I was talking via phone to a sweet little (8 years old) friend named Lucy, and she asked me if I was going to be at mamma's Christmas eve. When I told her I probably wouldn't make it, she persisted in wanting to know for sure and then told me she needed to know because she wanted to get a gift for 'everyone' there. I explained that I really didn't want her to get me a gift, but 'would' really like and enjoy it if she would color a 'new' picture for the refrigerator and give me a big hug. Could she handle that?

"Sure!" was her prompt reply and there was a big smile in her voice. She's know she's making me something I will really really like and really really enjoy for a really long time.

Big Mike, I sure understand what you are saying...so much 'stuff' bought that means so little. Unless I can eat it, hang it (pictures), grow it, tie a tomato to it, bathe in it, or smear it on my dry skin, I probably don't want or need it. I hate storing unused/unwanted/unneeded gifts and then disposing of them properly later. It's such a waste of the givers time and money. Give me a bag of Hershey's kisses (if ya gotta 'buy' me something) and a hug, and I'll be happy.

Worth, Can I at least pay the postage on that Texas BBQ?

Sue...who has it all except for a 'Texas BBQ'

It looks like you have a customer.

chemocurl,

"I hate storing unused/unwanted/unneeded gifts and then disposing of them properly later. It's such a waste of the givers time and money."

I have 3 girls under 6 (and one on the way feb 22nd) and they get so much cheap plastic junk (that they love) on all birthdays and Christmas that we have piles of the stuff.

We never need to buy them anything but when we do its off to the dollar store ;-)

Greg

Tyffanie

I have a group of friends that have been incredibly generous with me, and I would like to think, they feel the same about me. Whenever we have gathered, the best of this group has always been generous with their time and effort, as well as their money, to insure that we all have a good time.

If, like Worth, the host expresses a desire for me, as a guest, not to participate in preparations, then I would sit back and relax out of respect for the hosts desire. I can say that I have had the pleasure of talking at family and friends get togethers with many distinguished speakers from Fullbright economists, Nobel laureates, college professors and several reverends to a Navajo medicine man and interntional diplomat and they all offered to help prepare the food so that all could enjoy the evening. That seems more generous than sharing knowledge with just one person.

Bob

Why am I being so careful to not upset the censors? Can someone give me one good reason I shouldn't relate the story as it should be related? It's the only way it can be understood correctly.

"Who are Martha and Mary"

I'll give you a hint. The speaker raised Lazarus from the dead. I believe he was a relative of Martha. :-)

Greg

Thanks for the hints, I have managed to get the clue. I may have to reread some of my books, I appear to have forgotten some portion of it or the other.

On an aside, this is a terribly disappointing way to discuss this, isn't it.

Bob

I think Mike stated well the point.

Another way to say it or think about it;

"things" take care of themselves
if you worry about "things" you can/will miss the experience

a recent example in my life would be - my son wanted to go out in the snow and play but I was worried about it being windy and cold that morning so I rationalized I needed to clean and when I was done it would be warmer out. When I was done most of the snow had melted and he missed the experience for "things" I worried about.

beware of your motives for giving

I thought it was fish, not meat, but I may have it confused with something else.

sue

Thanks for clearing things up.

Sue

I hear they made a mean chicken fried steak also.
I also have reason to believe Judas’s name was on the tab.

I just thought I would clear that up.
Lord, "forgive me for my unorthodox sense humor.

Worth

was there a gratuity of 15% extra for parties of 12 or more?

did anyone look in the fish for extra coins?

I am not sure about fish with gravy, just an aside.

By the way, Greg and Mike, thanks again for the reference, it has been a long time since I read that book, and apparently lost that reference, definitely something to think about.

kinda makes that whole gravy thing all the more important

Mmmm Fish...

I keep my lights up until February ;-)

Greg