The Gift-giving Gene

I DO NOT like to go Christmas shopping, but it’s not for the reasons you may think. I have no problem with the crowds. I don’t mind parking at the far end of the parking lot (Lord knows I need the exercise). I don’t even mind the pushing and shoving – it gives me a chance to smile and be a “Joy-monger” (you Asbury folks should know that phrase).

So, why do I dislike Christmas shopping? I’m really bad at it. I’ll head into a store to find a gift for someone. I’ll walk around and pick up different things but never know for certain if they would want that thing. I get more and more confused and uncertain as to what to get and I end up leaving empty-handed and frustrated. I just don’t have the gift-giving gene.

I’m not sure why this has happened to me. There are others in my family who do it really well. They buy good gifts, and even if they aren’t perfect they are appreciated. My good friend, Chris, is another one – he loves to give gifts to others and he seems to know what to get or what to give. I seem to know many people with the gift-giving gene.

Maybe my lack of “good gifting” is an offshoot of my introverted personality. Maybe it’s simply a thing I have to deal with because it just is – like a receding hairline. What I fear is that others see me as uncaring or unwilling to try harder. I can see how it would look that way, especially when I find myself in a room full of high-achieving gifters.

I guess my confession is simply a plea to those around me. I do care. I do love you. I do want to be a good gifter, but it doesn’t seem to be in my genes.

What about you – do you have the gift-giving gene?

Merry high-five to you,
Mike