This Gift of the Month idea is a little different. I hope you’ll enjoy unwrapping it. Gift Selection For our family birthdays, the coffee table is the focal point with its stack of festive gift-wrapped packages for whichever boy or girl we are celebrating. As per our tradition, when our son and daughter-in-law’s children celebrate birthdays, the four grandparents reimburse our children for the gifts they purchase on our behalf. Then we all enjoy watching the honored child open presents from the family. What a joyous time with hugs and expressions of gratitude! Throughout the year, our daughter-in-law carefully…
Tag: Gift Ideas of the Month
Self-Care is Not Selfish, It’s a Gift
Each month I write one post about meaningful gifts. For the January post, the recipient is YOU! After an intro and some questions, you’ll find five beautifully-wrapped “gifts” with your name attached. These gifts will enable you to care for yourself so that you can care for others as God designs. Scene One First, imagine yourself on a 747. The flight attendant advises passengers to secure their own oxygen mask before assisting others should a need arise. Why? Because if you’re struggling to breathe, you might not be competent to help fellow passengers. Scene Two While we’re “in the air,”…
What Does God Want This Christmas?
The brown paper sack of cornmeal was the most unusual Christmas present I’d ever received. Terry, a shy first grader, placed the unwrapped gift on my desk. I knew that his grandparents sold homemade cornmeal for a limited income, and I suspected giving a bag away was a sacrifice. I cringed when a saucy little girl in the class wrinkled her nose, pointed to the cornmeal, and asked, “What is THAT? That’s not a Christmas present!” Noticing Terry’s downcast eyes and slumped shoulders, I cradled the sack in my hands and responded, “It’s cornmeal that Terry’s grandpa made. Now my…
Holiday Prep: Take a Break First!
At the beginning of each month, I post ideas for meaningful gifts to help us share joy and encouragement with other people. Guess what. This month, the gift idea is for Please nestle into a comfy chair and accept this package, beautifully wrapped and bearing a tag with your name on it. Take a deep breath first and lay aside your to-do list for a few minutes. Yes, this present is for you. Ready? Now pull off the ribbon. Lift the lid and move the tissue paper aside. Is that not the most beautiful gift you’ve seen in ages? What?…
The Pink Hat—Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October 2018
I saw the pink hat with the breast cancer symbol first. A young woman and her husband sat on the hotel patio where I sought a quiet place to read. After saying hello, I sat in an unoccupied section and opened my book. An older lady soon joined us and selected a chair. She asked the younger woman, “Are you a survivor? I noticed your cap.” “No, but my grandmother died of breast cancer and I wear this cap to honor her,” the younger woman answered. The newcomer said, “My mom died of breast cancer and I’m a two-time survivor…