Let’s be honest: Christmas celebrations can degrade into a huge checklist of the gifts that need to be purchased for everyone. Heaven forbid that someone special would be accidentally left off the list.
The clock is ticking and everyone knows how many shopping days there are until D-day…I mean, Christmas.
As we have learned more about the different love languages, it has helped us to craft gift ideas according to how different friends and family perceive love. Crazy as it may seem, not everyone appreciates physical gifts wrapped up in a bow. There are some family & friends who feel loved by spending quality time together, receiving words of affirmation, acts of service, or a big hug.
Isn’t it intriguing to discover that God has designed us each differently? If we just open the Bible, there it is for all to see:
“Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other.” Colossians 3 (The Message)
Keeping in step with our friends and family gives the holidays a special excitement and anticipation as you learn more about what makes each beloved one smile.
What once felt stressful, now feels inviting, especially if we keep our eyes on God and follow His lead, seeking to bless our friends & family with a unique expression of God’s love during the holidays.
Perhaps you are inspired to new creative heights in gift-giving this holiday. Here are a few simple, heart-felt, budget-friendly ideas for you to consider:
1) Do you love to bake or cook? Home baked goods are always appreciated. Consider preparing a favorite family recipe and include the recipe printed out with the story behind the dish.
2) Give the gift of an experience. Passes to local attractions like movies, aquariums, museums and zoos can all create lasting family memories. Some of our favorite experience gifts to consider, and budget friendly are subscription boxes! Consider these subscription box ideas:
- For your hubby or another couple on your list consider a date at home in a box. Datebox is so fun and includes everything you need for a festive night in, like cooking lessons or making a gingerbread house together.
- Do you have a kid that loves to cook? These KidStir boxes are so cute for those little budding chefs.
- Do you know a mom that hates to shop or never has time for it? StitchFix is my favorite go-to gift for busy moms.
- Do you have someone ultra-crafty on your list? DaySpring has these amazing artsy Bible journaling boxes called Illustrated Faith.
3) For hard-to-gift friends & family, what about planning some type of outing? A short day trip, or a mom’s night out with friends may show them love by spending quality time together.
4) There are so many creative options these days to create personalized gifts with your digital photos from books to calendars, mugs, and t-shirts. This can be a favorite for grandparents especially.
5) For those who love words of affirmation, you can write a letter describing what you appreciate about someone dear. Last year, Jenny gave Mindy the Charles Spurgeon devotional, “Mornings and Evenings with Spurgeon,” which was the perfect gift, but what sent it over the edge was that Jenny filled the entire inside page with a dedication describing what she loves about Mindy. That personal touch quadrupled the love that this gift showed to her friend.
We pray that you do not feel burdened by the thought of giving gifts this year, and perhaps focusing on the love languages will infuse your list with a good dose of holiday cheer. Hopefully you will enjoy searching for unusual ways to bless the special people that God has put into your life. John describes our desire to show our gratitude and love for our community of brothers and sisters:
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” (I John 4:7)
At Christmastime, as we celebrate the gift of Jesus, we turn that celebration into a tangible expression of thoughtfulness for others. It does not need to be expensive or lavish, just genuine and full of affection. We look forward to hearing about some of the fresh ideas you discover when you seek to be in tune with your friends and family. Bless you as you seek to be a blessing this holiday season.
Want to hear Jenny and Mindy discuss more about this topic? Join us on The Flourish Podcast, Holiday Edition Episode Three!
