The Gift of Thoughtfulness
It’s officially the season of giving! You’re probably busy putting up decorations, preparing for family gatherings, and buying special presents for the people you love. As you consider what to give your loved ones this Christmas, we urge you to embrace a spirit of thoughtfulness, selflessness, and love- whatever that looks like for you.
We all know how materialistic our world has become, especially around major holidays. We are urged to purchase the best, brightest, newest, most expensive things, because that’s what society tells us our loved ones want and need. This attitude does not reflect true generosity, however.
On the flip side, sometimes people go too far in the other direction. They think that Christmas has become too shallow, and they choose not to buy gifts at all to make a stand against our culture’s materialism. This is not necessarily ideal either.
We believe that there is a happy medium when it comes to gift-giving.
The most important part of a gift is the thought you put into it. This does not mean that gifts must be hand-made or inexpensive to mean something, however, and it also does not mean that a gift is special just because it cost a fortune. A true gift is something that will make a person feel cared for, understood, and loved. But what does this mean practically?
In order to be thoughtful, we must consider deeply the person we are giving a gift to. What do they love to do, see, or hear? What makes their life great, and what makes their life challenging? What is something unique about them that you admire? What is something that would make them laugh or smile?
Maybe your spouse or parent recently retired and you want to buy them an expensive pair of golf clubs because they love the sport and would never buy them for themselves. Maybe someone you know loves the color pink and lives in a cold place, so you decide to crochet or knit them a pink beanie for the winter. Maybe you don’t get to spend a lot of time with your grandchild, so you buy them movie tickets to use together. Maybe you are trying to shop for a young family who is visiting home for the holidays, and the most thoughtful gift would be to pay for part of their travel expenses.
Each of these are examples of thoughtful gifts, even though they vary greatly in price and type. The important thing is that they reflect true care for the other. A thoughtful gift should be selfless and generous, freely offered as a sign of love and respect for another.
Thoughtful Christmas Gift Ideas for your loved ones:
Framed picture
Money for a Home Unlimited Seminar
Board games
Homemade recipe book
Subscription to their favorite publication
Your favorite book, or a nice copy of their favorite book
Babysitting and date night money
Tickets to a concert, play, or sporting event
Locket or watch
Gift basket with their favorite snacks, drinks, and a candle
Journal
Event hosting kit
Set of candles or diffusers for their home
Cooking classes
“Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing.”
- St. Therese of Lisieux
Hot Cocoa Bar
Get festive with your family and friends this holiday season with a Hot Cocoa Bar! It’s a fun way to make sharing this warm winter drink an event, and a simple way to celebrate without breaking the bank.
Supplies:
Hot chocolate mix (or cocoa powder and sweetener of your choice)
Milk
Marshmallows
Whipped cream
Candy canes for stirring
Chocolate syrup
Additional topping ideas:
Toasted coconut flakes
Cinnamon
Chocolate Shavings
Sprinkles
Tip: pair your Hot Cocoa Bar with your favorite Christmas movie, puzzle, or game to make a whole evening out of it!
The Perfect Gift for Your Daughters and Granddaughters
Not sure what to give the young ladies in your lives this Christmas? Give your middle-schoolers fun and formative Art of Living for Girls classes!
AOLG will be active in Chicago, IL and Milwaukee, WI this spring. Kickstart!, our program for middle school girls, will focus on culinary and home arts skills, as well as providing invaluable lessons in faith, service, and friendship.
Kickstart! Chicago is for 5th, 6th, and 7th graders. The dates are:
February 3rd
March 2nd
April 6th
Kickstart! Milwaukee is for 7th and 8th graders. The dates are:
February 10th
March 9th
April 13th
Give your daughters and granddaughters a gift that keeps on giving this Christmas! Not only will they be able to participate in three sessions of Kickstart! throughout the spring, but they will gain self-confidence and important skills that will last a lifetime. For more details and pricing, head to our website and click Events!
