Mark's Notebook


	Things are more like they are now than they have ever been. - Gerald Ford

And now it's Christmas

Salt Lake Tribune

Friday 2 December 2005, 8:38 am
Keywords: Christian Topics , News Articles

By Robert Kirby, Tribune Columnist

And now it's Christmas, celebrated throughout America by maxing out credit cards and brawling over parking spaces at the mall.

Let's not kid ourselves. Giving gifts is what Christmas is all about. Without this blatant materialism, Christmas would be just another Thanksgiving where everyone sat around and ate and pretended to be grateful.

The most expensive Christmas gift I typically give goes to my wife. Not because she demands it, but because she deserves it. No one, not even God, has put up with more crap from me than she has.

The coolest gifts are the ones that you don't have to budget for. You can always afford them.

Forgiveness: We all have someone in our lives who could do with a nice box of this under the tree. Whatever it is, let it go.
Apology: It can be painful, but maybe it's time to start budgeting for it.
Kindness: How about being a little nicer to people you have to be around, people you might previously ignore because they're on the periphery of your life?
Empathy: Here's where you start giving gifts to people you don't even know - a street bum, some kid in Iraq, even criminals. Just once try seeing them as your brothers and sisters.

http://sltrib.com/lifestyle/ci_3253191