My Aunt Marie was born in 1919. She just celebrated her 95th birthday. I can only imagine the differences in gifts, decorations, and desires for gifts on the part of small children anticipating Christmas in the 1920s when my aunt was growing up.
The average income in 1919 was $1,125 a year, to purchase a car for the new, budding Beavers family would have been $826. Gas was 25 cents a gallon, a quart of milk, 12 cents, and a loaf of bread 9 cents. If my Aunt Marie were a little older she might have put on her Santa list the new toy of the year, a pogo stick.
The word "gift" comes from the Old Norse word "gipt." Later, the evolution of the word, Germanic in origin, was giefan, gefan. The word gift, around the Holiday season, is often synonymous with the word "present." Charles Dickens in his work, Bleak House first used this word which literally meant to "put a thing into the presence of a person."
We know that there is an entrenched tradition of gift giving in our culture. Kids want this and that, we buy items online for family members who may be far away, and we might even secretly wish for a certain 'something' that we hope our special 'someone' will think to get us.
According to the ancient story that is the foundation of this Season, when a baby named Jesus was born, elite men from the East brought gifts to the young child: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Yes, the gifts were relatively expensive, but more importantly, they were celebratory symbols of a life promised.
Words are symbols; words can also be precious gifts.
Instead of this time of year being a time when we think about receiving, maybe we could concentrate and be aware of the fact that the gracious gift of words can be given for free to others.
You know, there could be a chance when a kind and sincere word of encouragement given to someone less fortunate or even a stranger could be the gift they cherish to get them through a difficult time. Maybe you could share a compassionate conversation with someone that needs a friend. Instead of being in a hurry worrying about the trivia travails of Christmas preparations, we could pause and reach out to someone with a real handwritten letter or even a phone call letting them know you are thinking about them...giving presents with your words.
I created a Christmas postcard, personalized with a message and complete with a photo of me and my sister (who has since passed away). It was a loving collage of sorts which I mailed to my aunt. After receiving this in the mail, my Aunt Marie, at 95 years old, picked up her land-line phone which probably sits at her bedside, and called me.
I missed her first call, but fortunately I saved the voicemail. Her voice was frail, shaky, and weakened but her words were wrapped with clarity like the chime of a bell waiting for me to open and embrace.
I was later able to have a most tender conversation with her on our next call. After years of just occasional contact, her initial message was this:
"Janice, this is Aunt Marie. I just wanted to thank you for your card. I got it yesterday. I love you, too. Thanks for thinking about me. Bye."
My heart and spirit thanks you, Aunt Marie. You have given me one of the most precious gifts of all. Your words will be treasured not only this holiday season but for seasons to come.
Thanks for putting this gift into the 'presence' of me.