Vol. 2, No. 24 (December 18, 1999)

‘Tis the season, according to the newswires. Some Pokeman trading cards are going for nearly $300.00 on eBay.com. In one major American city, a young boy hid in a store until it closed. His object was to steal Pokeman cards. However, he couldn’t find a way out of the store and had to call for help. In the same city, a youth was nabbed after he after he smashed a store’s plate glass window in search of the popular cards.

Elsewhere, there were reports of one boy robbing another of Pokeman cards at knifepoint. In another, sadder, case, a boy stabbed another to get his cards. Finally, there is the story of the adult (so-called) who punched a Burger King employee in the face because the employee forgot to put a Pokeman toy in his child’s “Big Kid” meal bag.

I know that every Christmas merchandising season has its toy du jour. When my children were small, it was Cabbage Patch dolls. I made the attempts to get them what they wanted. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, I remember reading of some shoving and shouting matches when a new shipment of Cabbage Patch dolls hit the store before Christmas. This, over a doll.

We love our children. We get so much from giving to them. But do we remember to thank God when we have the resources to give to them, no matter how great or how modest those resources may be?

I remember several lean Christmases when my children were growing up. I remember the looks on their faces when Santa was forced to skimp on the things they wanted. I remember how I felt on those mornings. It was hard not to be disappointed with them at times like that.

We’ve heard so many times: presents are not what Christmas morning is all about. They are only a part – albeit an important and traditional part – of Christmas. In the midst of the Pokeman frenzies in the mall, take a moment and reflect on “the reason for the season.”

Give in the spirit God gave to us during this happy and holy season. With or without a Gameboy under the tree, you can give to your loved ones the same gift God gave to us in that stable, two thousand years ago, and continues to give us each and every moment of our lives: give the gift of your unconditional love.

From my family to yours: May God bless you with happiness, health and love during this holy season and for the year to come.

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