In a reflective piece, inspirational author and speaker Lara C. Patangan shares her evolving perspective on Christmas and gift-giving. As a child, Patangan equated the best gifts with the largest boxes. Over time, her focus shifted to smaller, more precious items. Now, as an adult, she finds herself navigating the practicalities of gift-giving, often buying her own presents for her husband to wrap.
Patangan notes the transactional nature of modern gift-giving, with Christmas lists replaced by specific online links, and monetary gifts becoming a common fallback. She laments the inadequacy of material items to truly convey love and affection, echoing the Grinch’s realization that Christmas means much more than what’s bought in stores.
However, Patangan’s true focus during the holiday season isn’t on material gifts or fictional characters. It’s on the simplicity and profound hope embodied in the nativity scene. The poverty of Jesus’s birth, amidst farm animals and hay, contrasts sharply with the abundance of hope it represents.
Patangan emphasizes that the true gift of Christmas is hope, a gift that transcends material value. This hope is embodied in the mercy, generosity, and unconditional love of Christ. It encourages a rebirth of spirit, urging people to choose love over hate, togetherness over distraction, tolerance over discrimination, service over self, and peace over violence.
In conclusion, Patangan acknowledges the joy of giving physical gifts but emphasizes that the most important gift one can give at Christmas is hope, a sentiment that aligns with her faith-based writings and her book, “Simple Mercies.”