Christmas Gifts and Their Relevance

Five months ago, Fernand Agor, a fresh grad working in a call center, was already excited about this coming Christmas. He didn't really know why. It was certainly a happy feeling but something weird was associated with it. Sometimes he thought it was a bit abnormal. It was a long way to go before Christmas. However he didn't mind that much the freakish part of his feelings. He had settled to the idea that he was happy, that was what he thought was important.

He was making a mental list of friends and relatives he would like to give a present for this Christmas. The joy within him was a burning life growing inside. He was more excited to know that he was experiencing the joy that started way back to the Roman festival of the Kalends which took place on the first of January during the Winter Solstice. Of course his gifts would be far different from what they had back then. Their gifts progressed from a form of evergreen branches to gifts of honey and cakes. His would be simple yet pleasant.

After he made his final list, he got conscious about the financial constraint along with it. Honestly, it was choking him that he had to make a quick change of plan. Instead of giving each of them a gift, he decided a gift for each family would cut down his expenses. Still, being a part of a big clan and having so many loving friends, the joy of it was slowly being replaced by worries. To get away with it, he gave up the idea.

During a lunch break at work, he had talked to his friend Dorothy. He asked her about how her family celebrates Christmas. He was excited when she mentioned about the gift-giving they always had since she was still in college. That was fifteen years ago. He was so impressed that he encouraged her to tell more about it. He had some pre-thoughts that her family was greatly close with each other. Surprisingly, she revealed otherwise.

Through out those fifteen years her mother never thanked her, not even wished her a merry Christmas. Although she never failed to give her mother a special gift each Christmas, her mother remained distant from her. Her father left them when she was five. Fernand believed that was the reason why her mother treated her differently.

Looking at her, he could feel the pain she was holding inside her. He felt guilty for suggesting the topic to her. He felt desperate finding comforting words so that she would feel better. He believed her mother loves her, only she couldn't show it the way she wanted. She is afraid of the love itself which she actually has inside for Dorothy. Then Dorothy smiled at him and said she was happy enough that she is free to show her love towards her mother through gift-giving.

The next day before his shift, he met his good friend Dianne at Starbucks in Paseo de Santa Rosa. Her father is an executive manager in one of Ayala businesses. He was eager to find out how they celebrate their Christmas, especially the gift-giving in her family. They usually donate in some charitable events which was a wonderful thing to know. However, he was disappointed to know they never had a gift-giving in her family. They always went abroad or had out-of-town trips during Christmas. He knew it seemed not appropriate to feel pity towards her but he was wishing she could experience the joy he felt whenever they had gift-exchange in their family. The surprise and fun they always had every time they un-wrapped their gifts. Although he could feel that Dianne was happy with the way her family celebrates Christmas.

At home, Fernand was reconsidering his plan about Christmas. He admired the love Dorothy had for her mother. She told him the joy she felt from the gift-giving in her family was inexplicable. Even if pain was there, she would always continue to show her love for her mother. While on Dianne's part, he was a bit lonely knowing they never experienced the thrill of wanting something for a long time which eventually someone from your family would give it to you as a Christmas gift. She told him they could buy things they want to have even though it is not Christmas. They don't have to wait for Christmas just to have it. He believes that the special touch of waiting and knowing someone you love had prepared a gift for you was more than the material gift you actually had received. That was what he believed Dianne was missing. Just the thought of the process of un-wrapping and opening your gift and the joy along with it was already a wonderful experience he would always cherish and would never barter with anything in this world. Finally, he started making his Christmas list.

at 11:37 AM