Christmas gifts money can't buy

Well, we survived the Mayan apocalypse that, like Y2K, proved to be more hype than substance. I do wonder, however, how many people actually were disappointed when civilization didn’t collapse, although from recent events it may have.

We’ve seen a fair amount of tragedy this year — Karl Rove’s implosion, Congress, skinny jeans, Honey Boo Boo’s extended 15 minutes of fame — so it’s nice that the expiration of the Mayan calendar proved to be nothing more than a millennial-old senior prank. Or simply a matter of running out of rock to carve it on.

Fortunately, we still have Christmas, and it will be here next week, and every year after just as it’s been here for centuries. Like many folks, I postponed Christmas shopping just on the off-chance that maybe — just maybe — the Mayans were onto something. Now, I’ve got to scramble.

This is one of those years when Christmas shopping is a bit tough. I’m not sure what Kim wants, and I’m a smart-enough husband to know not to accept “I don’t need anything,” or “You really don’t have to get me a gift.” Even if she’s sincere in those sentiments, I’m getting her something for Christmas. I just don’t know what, yet.

We did have to get work done on the switch box controlling our well, but as Linda Masters put it, “You can’t put a bow on a well switch.” True.

I don’t know if other husbands encounter this situation. When we first were married, and, to be honest, couldn’t afford something extravagant or high-dollar for one another, we exchanged simple gifts.

As we’ve shared these many Christmases, some years there has been no doubt about what to get each other, others we’ve actually been able to surprise one another with the gifts.

This year, we still can’t afford extravagant or high-dollar gifts for one another, plus we’ve fallen into that category of folks who tend to get what we need or want when we come across it.

Which puts me still at square one with Kim’s Christmas gift. But, the situation serves to remind me that our real Christmas gifts aren’t the year’s hottest electronic item, or fancy jewelry or clothes, and not a luxury car with a red bow on top — which, short of winning a multimillion-dollar lottery, ain’t ever happening for us.

No, the best Christmas gift is love. That was the original Christmas gift for us all, and sharing it with one another is still the best thing we can do. It’s something we all need, and something we all need to share.

With so much pain and misery and hate in the world, love is the greatest gift we can give or receive. It doesn’t need wrapping, doesn’t need bows, it comes in all sizes, and it doesn’t need batteries.

Compassion is another of the great Christmas gifts. Like love, it’s something all of us need and all of us can share with someone else. Too many people feel they’re alone, that nobody cares about them or what happens to them. They think no one understands what they’re going through or has experienced what they’re experiencing. Showing compassion lets them know someone does care, and that someone can be there for them in time of need.

Faith is yet another wonderful Christmas gift. It’s something we have to have, otherwise the world can be as lonely and bleak as it sometimes appears. Beyond traditional faith in the religious sense, we have to have faith in one another, faith that we can depend on each other, that someone will be there when we need them.

We need to have faith in ourselves, too, because it’s so vital to our being able to accomplish so many things.

When we combine faith, compassion and love, we have the greatest gifts for ourselves and the greatest gifts to share.

Even so, I still need to get a Christmas gift for Kim, so I’d best get on it before it becomes a New Year’s gift.

In the mean time, Merry Christmas, y’all.