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This Kohl’s Holiday Commercial is a True Cry-Fest Because YES

  • 3  Minute Read
Kohls Commercial

Are you guys done crying at holiday commercials yet? Good, ME NEITHER! I will confess, this latest one from Kohl’s got me good. I had to watch it twice to make sure I really got it . . . and then, the waterworks flowed freely.

In the 90-second commercial’s description on their YouTube channel, it says: This year looks different—and so do our wish lists. Where once we just wished for things like toys and tech, we’re now wishing for happiness, understanding and kindness more than ever. And time spent together is the greatest gift of all. This year looks different because the world is different. So give with all your heart. Happy holidays from Kohl’s.

Kohl’s conveys this message with a beautiful story of the unlikely friendship between a young girl and her much older neighbor.

We are all a little lonelier during this pandemic, and that’s true no matter how old you are. Kids who have to do school from home miss their friends, and older adults with health conditions miss their friends and families, too.

We’ve got a loneliness pandemic in addition to a viral one.

The damage from both will be long-lasting, I am sure. But this ad from Kohl’s shows us a creative and beautiful way to pursue friendship in the midst of solitude.

When a young girl spies her neighbor through her window, an idea sparks a friendship. They enjoy getting to know each other through window messages until one day the neighbor simply stops appearing.

You can feel the young girl’s disappointment each day as she waits for a message from her friend.

Where has she gone? Is she just done with this little game, or has something happened? Her young friend refuses to let go of hope.

And then, Christmas morning comes.

And with it, JOY! As the older neighbor waves hello to her young friend, we see it: a hospital bracelet. And we understand that, back at her window, she and this little girl have been given the greatest gift of all: more time together.

Take a look: 

 

Whatever happens this year, this is what I wish for you all: time. Time to be together.

It is not lost on me that time apart this year may result in more time together in the future. What a strange, dissonant truth.

Thank you, Kohl’s, for reminding us that the most priceless things on our wish list can’t be bought.

Watch the McDonald’s Christmas commercial that has boy moms everywhere sobing.

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Articles by Jenny Rapson

Jenny Rapson

Jenny Rapson is a follower of Christ, a wife and mom of three from Ohio and a freelance writer and editor. You can find her at her blog, Mommin' It Up, or follow her on Twitter.

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