I just read a news article about an actor and how he and his wife approach Christmas gifts with their son. He said that they bought nothing for his Christmas when he was under one-year-old because he wouldn’t know the difference. And as he got older and they noticed that he saw Christmas gifts as just a bunch of stuff—one gift after another—they cut back until he appreciated each gift he got as something of value.
I thought about that as I got to the point of writing this week’s topic. How do we give gifts that are personal? Here are a few ideas I had.
- Give gifts from the heart. I made it a habit long ago to give gifts to
people I love that I love, too. So, unless my mom asked for a puce-colored sweater where the sleeves hung over her hands and the hem reached her knees, I gave her a sweater I would like to wear myself. I gave a gift that would mean something to me if I received it. - Give gifts that people need. I don’t mean giving only underwear for Christmas—people need joy as well as undies—but there’s no need to give a person something they have no use for. My mom is on a fixed income and appreciates gift cards she can use to buy things she needs instead of having to use her own money. I always used to think that gift cards were impersonal, but they’re what she needs at this stage of life, so that’s what she gets.
- Give something intangible. A smile at the right time can be the greatest
gift of all. Lending a helping hand when you see it’s needed, thanking a serviceman or woman, or police officer for their service, or saying a kind word are all ways that make the recipient warm inside, and they cost nothing. My mom was always (and fortunately for me, still is) always ready with a hug or encouragement. Always willing to jump in and give me whatever it is I need. - Give something tangible. Charities always need more help at the holidays, but they also need a boost all year long. My mom tithes all
year, but she doesn’t tithe to her church, as such. She tithes in kind, by giving to two particular charities: one is an Indian school in South Dakota. She and my aunt send books and school supplies during the year and all kinds of gloves, scarves and hats in the winter. They buy travel size personal items and small teddy bears and package them to give to women’s shelters. When women escape horrible situations at home, they leave with just what they have on, and they need more, so Mom and my aunt help provide those things. - Give time. Another intangible that might cost something if it means taking time from work is the gift of time. Time is infinite, but time here
on earth, with loved ones or even those we don’t know, like folks at a nursing home or hospital, is not infinite. Once a day is gone it never comes again. I live too far from Mom to see her often, but we talk weekly and when we do have time together, we cherish it. Time and love are the two greatest gifts!
I do try each Christmas to follow these gift-giving ideas, though I don’t always succeed. I tend to give Jack things that I think he needs, not what he thinks he needs. (I do know best, don’t I? It turns out, not so much!) But I think the best point to remember about personal gift giving is that it’s not just for Christmas—it’s a notion we should follow all year round.
Read the next blog in the blog hop by going here.
Dee
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When my daughter’s birthday came around this year, I chose to give things that had meaning. Things that might inspire her to follow through with her dreams. I feel the meaning behind the gift triumphs over cost.
Great blog post, Dee.
Hi Dee,
I’m with your mom on the gift cards. I love to pick what I really need. But there are times when I know exactly what I want and send a link to the gift giver and that works fine too. One of my favorite feel good things to do when it gets close to Christmas is to donate a few dollars to as many animal shelters as I can. Maybe my few dollars won’t make much of a difference, but I feel as if it does. It is a good feeling. And of course you know what hubby needs better than he does. That goes without saying. Lol
Great article. It’s always good to be reminded of the simple things in life.
Lovely post Dee! and very timely.
You have so many great ideas in this post. My dad is like that with gift cards. He really prefers to pick his own stuff, and if that makes him happy, that’s the gift I’d rather give him. You’re also right that gifts don’t have to be an item. There are lots of other ways to give.