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items or see it in the store I think, "nose hair trimmer." Hey, there is no way of getting around it: if
you give this gift you are telling the recipient that the
strand of hair hanging out of their left nostril is
unsightly. Or, since the product is also marketed for the
ears, you've noticed a bit 'o fuzz on their earlobes One way to test the wisdom of gift
selection is by doing this: imagine your loved one at work
hanging around the water cooler. "Bob" comes up and says, "so,
what did you get for Christmas?" Your loved one replies, "I
got slippers, some shirts, a tool case, and a really cool
personal trimmer." Sure, like he is going to share this
information with blabbermouth Bob, who is known to share
"news" throughout the office. You get the picture: if he is
ashamed of the gift he'll lie and say, "a one year
subscription to Sports Illustrated" or some other tale.
Never encourage your loved ones to lie!
For the ladies, you must always be careful what you buy for
them. Us menfolk are at a disadvantage: we're wired to think
practical while women are wired to think sentimental.
Exercise equipment might be smart, but like the fella in the
Best Buy television ad who purchased exercise equipment for
his sweetheart, you don't want your wife to assume that you
think that she is fat. In case you make that error, you must
think fast and say, "no babe, I just want to keep you heart
healthy so I have many more Christmas' with you!"
Unfortunately, men don't always think that fast. Better yet,
if your wife tells you what she wants, get her that. You can
always run over to Victoria's Secret later to purchase
lingerie which she'll like because you like seeing her
wearing it. Trust me!
Are you going to the neighbor's for a Christmas social? Then
leave the Royal Dansk cookies at home. Better yet, don't buy
them. Are they awful? No. Just too common. |
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Like the unwanted
fruitcake that gets passed around the family and neighborhood year
after year the Royal Dansk cookie tin is getting the same reputation.
If tasked with the responsibility of bringing a dessert and you
aren't baking, pick something up at the local bakery. It'll be fresh
and it will be eaten. Let them worry about their cholesterol level.
What should you buy the boss? Well, the standard gifts over the
years have been wine or hard liquor, something for his desk [photo
frame], or a personal item like a fold up umbrella. Boring! Rather,
have some fun and purchase spyware for your boss so that he can
spend the time snooping on his employee's internet access. See if
that wins you valuable points during review or promotion time!
Seriously, maybe the whole gift thing has gotten a little bit out of
line. Maybe we should think of more practical gifts to give such as:
spending time with an elderly relative; volunteering to help coach
your child's soccer team; or by making a cash donation to a relief
agency in the gift recipient's name.
Two thousand years ago the greatest gift ever given, Jesus, was
freely given to mankind; I believe anyone freely receiving His love
is receiving that very same gift. Jesus is one gift that perfectly
suits mankind: God's boundless love and unrestricted forgiveness. |