I’ve always been fascinated by the television crews who go out on the street and ask every day people, living every day lives, questions. I don’t know, I guess I’ve always wanted to do it too. So, I decided to go into areas where people do not know me and propose this question, What does the Season of Giving actually mean?
My first stop, Race Track in Gainesville, Georgia; perfect spot to find an answer to my question. I pulled up next to a guy in an F250 and started filling up my tank. “Sir, could I ask you a question?” I began. (It didn’t seem as smooth as the television guys, but it was my first shot.)
“Sure,” he responded, spitting tobacco juice to the side of his truck.
“What does the Season of Giving actually mean?”
“Christmas,” he said, quickly and a matter-of-factly.
I realized I needed to rephrase my question. “Can you give me an example of what the season of giving means?”
“Santa Claus,” he answered.
I decided to drive further up the road to a McDonalds off I-85. There were two older ladies having lunch, and they seemed please to answer anything I asked. “Can you ladies give me an example of what the season of giving means?”
“Gifts. Every year I bake cookies for families in my neighborhood and church,” one answered.
“For me,” the taller, more serious looking woman responded, “It’s time with my grandchildren.”
At The Home Depot, a man answered, “Jewelry for my wife. She expects it every Christmas and I work for it all year-long.”
In the Mall parking lot I heard:
“I don’t really think about needy people being necessarily poor. Like, needy people could be people who need attention. So, I try to spend time with lonely people.”
“Time when you focus on others and not yourself.”
“The season of giving is about finding the joy of the holiday.”
“Getting toys and lots of them…”
“I’m not really into Christmas, but if I were Christian, it would be about giving to other people and not about getting from other people. That’s why I’m not really into Christmas.”
“I’ve been hoping all month my parents get me PlayStation 4! Yeah! That will definitely be the true season of giving.”
“Christmas parties, family gatherings, greeting cards, and packages.”
“It’s the season FOR GIVING. Get it? Forgiving others.”
There were some workers – a construction crew – taking a lunch break just outside of downtown Atlanta. “In Mexico, in our village, we used to go from house to house. We would bring food and our neighbors would offer food. It was a time of celebration for Mother Mary and the Christ child.”
“It’s about remembering why Christ came to earth and thanking Him for coming.”
And my favorite answer, which came from a little girl at Chic-fil-A, “‘For God so loved the world, that He GAVE His only Son…’ That’s it! That’s Christmas in a package, tied up with a bow.”
So, what does “the Season of Giving” mean to you? Maybe we all need to stop and think about it and start implementing what it means to us.
