As Christians, it is once again that time of year when we tire of the commercialism that the holiday season seems to stand for. Many of us will rush out and buy, buy buy, snaking through the aisles of big box superstores discovering all the best deals. Others will sit in the comfort of their homes, reflecting on the significance of the holiday while baking cookies and sipping tea. Somewhere in the middle is the gift giver who is, at this very moment, skimming our first holy communion gifts for the loved ones in their lives.

Religious or not, the holiday season will take its toll on you. From the maze of santas at the malls to the holiday music that began playing long before Halloween to the clogged stores and beyond, it seems as though it gets more irritating each year.

Without giving you an actual history lesson, Christmas is truly about giving gifts. Unfortunately, we as imperfect humans at times completely make a mess of this. You see, the greatest gift of all is unconditional love and ultimate forgiveness, anything less and you are completely missing the point.

Now, that is not to say you need to take back those video games you bought for your kids, it just means the true meaning of gift giving, if not the celebration of Christmas itself, should be the focal and vocal point of the season.

Remember, we received the greatest gift of all the night Christ was born. And we show our love and dedication to Him through the giving of gifts. Giving to others is our way of expressing our love to those close to us. Keep this in mind while you are standing in a seemingly never ending line at Walmart, an attitude of gratitude is indeed universal and is a wonderful place in which to dwell.