On Giving Gifts

I was reading C.S. Lewis the other day and came across some thoughts he had that I in turn share . . .

The idea of gift-giving above and beyond gifts to the poor and children is a modern phenomenon.  I dislike it for the following reasons:

1.    It gives more pain than pleasure.  Long before December 25th everyone is worn out – physically from shopping and mentally from having to think about so many people.  When Christmas roles around they are not ready to party or much less act in a serving way.  Families look far more as if there had been a long illness in the house.
2.    Most of it is involuntary.  Present giving is almost blackmail.  You feel obligated to give back to those who give to you and this forces many beyond their means.
3.    Things are given as presents which no person will ever use.
4.    It’s a nuisance.  Sending cards and presents is nice but when done all at once and only once it is drained of meaning.  We ought to send cards when the recipients least expect to receive anything from anyone.