by Timothy Head
It’s a common holiday tragedy: no matter how many days or weeks mom and dad spend frantically scouring the shopping mall for every gift on Suzie’s list, she will be upset when her stocking doesn’t contain the one toy she really wanted. Worn out with exhaustion, her parents will embark on “just one more” Christmas Eve trip to the crowded mall to purchase the final gift, only to discover that it is out of stock.
Sound familiar?
At some point in our lives, we have each lost our tranquility to this type of holiday chaos and consumerism. Many Americans today, however, are replacing religious devotion with a disordered focus on money and fortune, according to a 2023 Gallup poll. Allowing consumerism to displace faith in God, especially during a time of year dedicated to religious celebration, leaves too many Americans feeling anxious, stressed and unfulfilled.
It’s time for our culture to rediscover lasting happiness inspired by gratitude and Judeo-Christian values.
A shift in personal values over the past two decades forecasts an unhappy future for American society. Since 2002, Americans’ concern for money has risen 12 percentage points, from 67% to 79%, according to Gallup polling.
Meanwhile, a survey by the American Psychiatric Association recently found that nearly a third of Americans are more stressed out this holiday season than they were last year. Financial concerns, including the cost of holiday gifts and meals, ranked top among the sources of anxiety reported by participants.