Tag: #Transparency

The Season of Gift-Giving: Gifts That Nourish

Gift Idea Example in Action: Soap in a Dish with Note

This series is about simple gifts—made with care.
Each one, uniquely made with stuff already hiding in your home.

What can you give that nourishes?
Who might need a gift of comfort this season?
How can your creativity become compassion?

When we think of the holiday season, we naturally think about presents. This year, the challenge is to think about presence in the presents. Think of what you can make if you had ten or fifteen minutes.

Before we begin our gift ideas with instructions, let’s prepare our hearts for the season of giving.

To offer what we have.
To share what we create.
To nourish others with love.

If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry…
— Isaiah 58:10

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have…
— Hebrews 13:16

Freely you have received; freely give.
— Matthew 10:8

So you see, Jesus wants us to give. To give our time and our talents to those we wish to bless. Let’s invite God to prepare our hearts to create, to share, and to love.

I’ll go first.

As I have been thinking about this series, I decided to make December a GIVING month.

My goal is to create gifts from the heart for the people I will be encountering this month. Nothing grandiose. Just a simple gift from something I already have in my home.

Lord,
Help me come up with a gift idea for the healthcare professional I’ll be seeing today. Give me the words to write a meaningful note. Fill my heart with gratitude.
Amen

Gift Idea Example: Soap

Materials:

• Soap
• Glass dish or plate
• Card or note paper
• Cellophane, tissue paper, or wrapping paper
• Optional: gift bag

Instructions:

1. Place soap on or in a glass dish or plate.
2. Wrap
3. Place in a gift bag.
4. Write a note that will be meaningful for the recipient. Use AI to generate ideas for you.

Gift Idea in Action:

Yesterday, I had a medical appointment.

I took a small bar of soap, placed it in a small glass dish, and wrapped it in cellophane with a gold elastic string. I found a Christmas Card and wrote a note describing how the glass represents transparency and integrity, and the soap represents the healing her hands do each day. I placed it in a small gift bag and left it on the counter. I didn’t sign the card.

Why? It was my way of saying “Thank You.” How will she receive the gift? Well, let’s just say that is up to God!

December is about presence. And to me, that means to extend a gesture to those who least expect it. And the rest is up to God.

Let’s give differently this year. Let’s give from the heart.

Let’s Offer the Gift of Creativity
to Ourselves & to Others.

#Creativity #Transparency #GiftsThatNourish #Faith #SacredGifts #GiftsThatMatter #GiftsOfHope #PresenceInThePresents #MeaningfulGifts #SoulGifts #Holidays