Last week, the NBC Nightly News aired a story about a Starbucks in Florida where a rather unusual thing happened. It seems one guy in the drive-through line decided to pay for the order of the person in line behind him. Then, that person paid for the person that was behind them, and this set-off a chain reaction of people buying drinks for total strangers. Apparently, this went on for several hundred customers before it stopped. Despite some blogs I’ve seen claiming that this is merely a Public Relations campaign by Starbucks to make more money, the story had a good feel to it. Especially now, during the holiday season when giving should truly be on our minds.
Unfortunately, most of us get caught in a trap this time of year of whining about the daunting task of Christmas shopping. Honestly, who hasn’t proudly proclaimed to anyone that will listen, “I finally finished my Christmas shopping!” once they have it completed? I know I have. But despite my public whining, I always keep myself grounded and try to remember the purpose of gift giving in the first place.
The tradition of gifts at Christmas is often linked all the way back to the birth of Jesus Christ. As the Bible describes, when the Magi (wise men) saw Jesus, they were filled with such joy, they gave him gifts to celebrate. It’s such a simple and pure story, but it often gets lost somewhere between the pressure to find that “perfect gift”, “One-Day-Only” sales, finding a parking spot at the mall, and all the other hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Why do we so easily forget that the true gift is in the giving itself?
If you’re like me, and you’re feeling stressed about all those last minute gifts you still need to get, take a minute to remember why you are buying them in the first place. And as you venture out, maybe buy a coffee for the stranger in line behind you, or pass up that front row parking spot and let the minivan with the stressed out mother of four have it instead. Little gifts you give like these will quickly make your heart grow larger, much like the Grinch’s did, and you’ll start feeling the true meaning of Christmas.
G’Night G’ Town!
Come they told me (pa-rum pum pum pum)
A newborn King to see (pa-rum pum pum pum)
Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King
So to honor Him (pa-rum pum pum pum)
when we come Little Baby (pa-rum pum pum pum)
I am a poor boy too (pa-rum pum pum pum)
I have no gift to bring (pa-rum pum pum pum)
that's fit to give our King
Shall I play for You? (pa-rum pum pum pum)
On my drum Mary nodded (pa-rum pum pum pum)
The ox and lamb kept time (pa-rum pum pum pum)
I played my drum for Him (pa-rum pum pum pum)
I played my best for Him
Then He smiled at me (pa-rum pum pum pum)
Me and my drum 
