LOVE and LOGIC
The holiday season can be stressful for many people. There are the usual sources of stress, such as financial strains and high expectations among family members. This year we are also facing the pandemic, which is exacerbating the stress in everyone’s lives. Amid all of this, one stress that always arises is finding just the right holiday gifts for our children.
Have you noticed how much effort some folks put into finding holiday gifts for their kids? I bet you know someone who does not think twice about spending endless hours—or even days—scouring the Internet for that perfect gift that their child has been wanting.
Let’s think about it. Is there anything wrong with this? What is the problem with spending lots of time and energy looking for neat and nifty gifts for our kids?
Nothing. However, what happens when we exert more energy on finding those gifts rather than showing our youngsters what a gift, they are to us?
Unfortunately, I have done this too. Yes, I have fallen into this trap! I have worn myself out trying to make things so perfect that I have forgotten the most perfect gift of all—the expression of never-ending, unconditional love.
We are all wired to need it. All of us yearn for a relationship with someone who will love us forever, regardless of how stinky we behave. Isn’t this the greatest gift we can give our loved ones? Isn’t this what the holiday season is really about?
This year, my hope is that you’ll:
- spend more time playing with your kids than you spend shopping for them
- remember that the gift they really yearn for is you
- hug them and smile into their eyes as often as possible
- show them through your never-ending love what a precious gift they are.
Thanks for reading! Our goal is to help as many families as possible
Dr. Charles Fay
