“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.” - James 1:17-18

We all know people who are good gift-givers, and we all know a few who just aren’t.  You just started identifying people you know who fit in both categories. I know. I did, too. With those who fall into the second category, you’re pretty much assured that every gift they give you is going to be regifted at some point. Giving gifts can present all kinds of challenges:

• Do they have this already?

• Will they use it or regift it?

• Will it bring them as much joy as it would bring me?

One of our family’s favorite times of year is Christmas, and our most enjoyable time of the season is when we pass out the Christmas stockings. Inside those ginormous socks are little gifts and trinkets specifically curated for the receiver. They are usually gifts the person didn’t ask for but were well-researched. And tracking down those personalized gifts is just as much fun as giving them. Sometimes the hunt takes us to some obscure online store to find just the right gift. They are silly, inexpensive, and fun. But, the joy of the moment isn’t in the gift itself, it’s in the motive behind the gift.

Giving gifts to people can take your thoughtfulness to a whole other level. When the gift is truly thought out, it exponentially takes on a whole new meaning for the receiver. When we give a truly well-thought-out gift, it becomes much more about the relationship than it does about the gift itself - and that’s really the point, isn’t it? 

TRY IT: Who is someone you need to show appreciation to? Do you know what foods they like? What are their musical tastes? What’s a hobby they enjoy? Can you remember something they gave you once? Use one of these prompts to get them a thoughtful gift of appreciation.