I’d say the trickiest part of Christmas is deciding whether to include gift giving. It can be a burden on your time, energy, finances, and Christmas spirit, or it can be a blessing, a way to show loved ones that you care.
Do you remember buying presents for your parents and siblings when you were young? I do. I had a certain amount of money to spend, and I would spend the month of December watching each family member with a careful eye to get some clue as to the right gift for each one. My dad was a voracious reader, especially about history. My mom and I would read the reviews of the new book releases until we found the perfect title for his gift.
I don’t really remember what gifts I received as a kid, nor the specific ones that I gave. But I do remember the care that went into selecting each present and that happy feeling of knowing that I had made the right choice. The Bible precept rings true, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
Well, those are happy memories, but I can’t say that, as an adult, every Christmas has been that idyllic. There have been many years when the list of people to buy presents for was too long, the finances too little, and the time too rushed. Consequently, there was little joy in giving, only an anxious mood.
I’d rather have the satisfaction that the Wise Men must have had when they brought their gifts to Jesus, gifts that were selected with care and from the heart. (See Matthew 2:10–11.) And I would like to celebrate—without stress—the true meaning of Christmas, which isn’t about spending and shopping, but rather about the birth of Jesus, our Savior, God’s gift to us all. (See John 3:16.)
Some tips that have helped me are:
Shop early. Throughout the year as I find a gift that I think someone would like or find useful, I buy it and put it away until Christmas.
Shop locally. I frequent small shops and fairs for original gifts. That shopping is more personal and benefits local businesses.
Stay within your budget. The love in your heart is not related to the size of the gift. I like to make handmade gifts for my larger circle of friends—Christmas tree ornaments, personalized bookmarks, sweet treats, etc.
May you have a meaningful Christmas celebration with the greatest Gift-Giver of them all, Christ.