The most meaningful Christmas gifts are often the most personal, and therefore hard to give. Gifts such as forgiveness, love or peace take time, energy and a change of heart.
In the book “Becoming a Better You,” author Joel Osteen shares the experience of a woman driving a new car, when she gets in an accident. In tears, she tells the gentleman whose car she had hit that her car was a recent gift from her husband. As the woman reached into the glove compartment for the insurance information, she saw an attached note that read, “Honey, just in case you ever have an accident, please remember I love you and not the car.”
These kinds of thoughtful, gentle gifts are priceless and lasting. A few years ago when I came down with pneumonia, a neighbor brought by a grocery bag full of “chick flicks” and a book series called “At Home in Mitford.” Bringing books and movies can be a bold move because people’s tastes are so different. But this good woman had been sick before. She knew what I would want — quiet, soothing, lovely images to distract me from the daily reality. That book series saw me through an intensely difficult time and has become a personal favorite.
Personal gifts share a bit of who you are: your tastes, joys and talents. One woman I know chose to type and bind some of her favorite recipes in a folder and give them as gifts. One Christmas I hand painted ornaments for family members, to give them something personalized. The best part, of course, was that I painted them on an overnighter, at a fabulous hotel, while watching all six episodes of “Pride and Prejudice” — that was a meaningful Christmas gift.
Choose something a tad more personal this year, and really enjoy it instead of just crossing it off the ole list.
Merry Christmas!
