Benton's Books

Well, in about 48 hours old Saint Nick will have been here an gone....and I for one will be glad! Now, don't misunderstand me, I enjoy the holiday season, but I think it's way too commerical for me to fully enjoy. It seems like all the toys that are wanted are the ones we'd never buy, if there wasn't a season to get us to pay the high prices or if the kids weren't expecting the very best of the best. No, I am not a tight fisted old man, but let's be honest here.....how many kids honestly need a $250 pair of sneakers? And, the price is mostly due to the brand name, not the quality or the (in my opinion) looks of the product. Oh, they look OK, but for sure not $250 worth of good looks.

 

I guess the problem is, well, I can remember when the Holiday was a special time of the year for friends and family to get together and socialize, eat, and share some good times. It seems to me that all the Holiday is now is the "Give me" season and very little time is spent with the idea of the real spirit of Christmas in mind. While I don't have any problems with giving gifts, do they all have to be bought? I can remember a time when some gifts were made by hand and given with love behind them, only you don't see that much any more. I'm sure some folks still do it, but not many. I think in our fast paced society today it's just plain easier and faster to run down to the Mall and buy little Jimmy his $250 sneakers and then wash our hands of the whole mess. Besides, when was the last time your family got together and sang Christams songs, played a few games, or maybe just spent a quiet evening over a nice meal?

 

Oh, we often eat a Christmas dinner, but how much of it comes out of a can or box?  Once again, I remember when the whole meal was cooked from scratch and not a single thing, including the butter came from a box.  But, I suspect our Holiday dinners have gone the same way our gifts have....run down to the store, pick up a complete Christmas meal in a box, then go home and lay it all out on the table. 

 

We have become a fast paced society and I invite all of you to slow down a little during the Holidays and spend some time with those you really love.  Share the season and keep the feeling special in your heart.  While we may not be able to make our Christmas gifts, or even cook a meal from scratch, we can all slow down, hug the people we love the most, and share our feelings of love and warmth.

 

Take care, have a great Holiday season, and remember to tell someone special you love them!

 

W.R. Benton