One doesn’t have to be very old to have experienced a lot of changes in life. 

For example, although artificial intelligence (AI) has been around several years, it has only recently become a topic of everyday conversation. Even just a few years ago, we really didn’t think about people using our picture and our voice to create videos that appear to be us but aren’t. Until very recently, AI seemed like a thing of the future.

I’m old enough that AI isn’t the only new technological innovation that I’ve witnessed. When I was a kid, we didn’t have phones to carry around in our pockets. We watched the TV shows broadcast on local networks or videos using a VCR. We listened to music on the radio or a vinyl record or cassette tape. The term “text” referred to written print or, more likely, was short for textbook. Terms such as going viral, internet, search engine, phishing and digital platform were not in our vocabulary.

Another thing that has changed in my lifetime is thrifting. Thrifting — that idea of shopping for second-hand items, perhaps at a garage sale, thrift store, flea market, resale shop or online — wasn’t a term I knew when I was young. 

Don’t get me wrong, we practiced the concepts of recycle, repurpose and reuse before we knew the terms. When a pair of jeans became too small, we passed them on to a friend or a sibling. If one was lucky enough to get a new bike, the old bike was passed on to a smaller child who would pass her bike to an even smaller child. I guess we were kind of thrifting before thrifting was cool!

Thrifting has grown in popularity the past few decades. According to a recent Forbes article, the resale market grew from $28 billion in 2019 to $49 billion last year, and is projected to hit $74 billion by 2029. Resale is no longer a cottage industry.

There are, no doubt, many reasons people thrift. For many the main reason is driven by economics. Often, for a fraction of the cost, one can purchase a used item that will serve the purpose of a new one. 

Others thrift for sustainability reasons. If one buys a used item, it stays out of a landfill. Also, buying used instead of new may save resources and reduce environmental damage.

Some people thrift for the thrill of the hunt. It’s enjoyable to search for that quirky, unique treasure or that hard-to-find replacement item, especially if we find it at a great price. Still others thrift primarily to indulge a hobby of collecting. That’s me!

We are blessed in our community with a variety of resale stores. I enjoy an afternoon browsing for treasures. Even when I am only browsing and not planning to buy, I keep a lookout for anything depicting the birth of Jesus.

I’m not exactly sure when I became a collector of nativity scenes. I purchased my first nativity set at a little college giftshop when I was an undergraduate student. A few years later, my husband purchased a nice white porcelain nativity set for our young family. 

Over the years I have purchased additional nativity items and friends have gifted me with many sets. When friends and family members travel, I am often gifted with a nativity. In addition to traditional nativity sets, I have pictures, bells, wall hangings, candles, cards, and books depicting the birth of Christ.

Even though I have purchased some new nativity sets, most of my recent nativity purchases have been through thrifting. This time of the year is a great time to find them. I go thrifting hoping to find that unusual nativity, and have found many treasures at local resale shops. No doubt, I will go treasure hunting several more times before Christmas.

Many of us are starting to get into the Christmas spirit. We are busy shopping, wrapping gifts, creating menus and writing Christmas cards. I encourage you to consider a couple of new Christmas traditions that you may not practice. One of those is thrifting. Support our local resale stores by going in and looking around. You never know what treasure you might find!

A second tradition I encourage is intentionally looking for depictions of the Holy Family. We have a beautiful nativity set up on the hill in Cassville. Really look at it and think about the gift we are given at Christmas. 

When you see a nativity set, whether new or used, take a long look at it. Think about how the creator of the nativity shared the importance of this momentous event. Examine the set closely and remember the true meaning of Christmas.

If you think you would enjoy seeing more than 200 nativity scenes in one setting, come enjoy my collection. For the next few weeks, it is on display at the Cassville United Methodist Church at 601 Gravel Street. The display will officially open Dec. 6 with an event called “Meet Me at the Manger.” From 1-6 p.m., we will have free hot chocolate and cookies available with the nativity exhibit open for viewing. 

Go stake out a spot to view the Cassville Christmas parade and then come enjoy this event.

The exhibit will also be open from 1-6 p.m. on Dec. 14. At 6 p.m. on that day, the Cassville United Methodist Church will host its annual Christmas Card to Cassville, an evening of music and celebration. 

Come enjoy various musical numbers, including our handbell choir. Additionally, the nativity display will be open from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday through Dec. 22. If those times don’t work for you, call the church to arrange another time to view the display.

As we approach Christmas, enjoy the many traditions of the season. Remember that we are celebrating the birth of Jesus! Happy thrifting and Merry Christmas. 

May you find and revel in the real treasure of the season.

Jamie Fugitt is the wife of Jeff Fugitt, pastor at Cassville First United Methodist Church. She may be reached at [email protected].