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Friday, Dec. 13, 2002 Last-minute Christmas gifts with meaning
By Cathy Hopkins
When the Wise Men brought precious gifts to the young child, Jesus, they started the wonderful tradition of "gift-giving" at Christmas. Too often we let the hectic pace and pressure of December calendars rob us of the joy of celebrating the gift of Jesus.
Here are some "last minute gift-giving" ideas to help make Christmas meaningful to others and you.
Handmade coupons
Give a coupon for childcare to allow parents to do last-minute shopping or enjoy "a night out" after the holidays.
Give a coupon to your minister for a meal with your family in your home or restaurant to get to know each other's family better.
Give a coupon for respite care for a night or evening in the home of a family caring for a person with a developmental disability.
Gifts that keep on giving
Honor someone with a gift to the church library, a special church fund, missions offering, Meals on Wheels, food bank or other organization.
Send a child/grandchild/or family to camp - N.C. Baptist camps for boys average $140 a week, girls camp averages $135 weekly and the cost is $150-$200 for Baptist music camp for children. An average size family could participate in Family Fun and Focus camp at the N.C. Baptist Assembly at Fort Caswell for approximately $400 for a week.
Sponsor a "missionary"- Provide a gift to allow someone to participate in a mission trip or experience.
Gift certificates - they always fit!
Gift certificates for groceries are great for senior adults or almost anyone!
Students and service men and women love long distance phone cards and gift certificates for restaurants and videos.
Your church staff would appreciate gift certificates for dry cleaning or to a local department store.
Personal gifts that cost only your time
Record on audiotape or video a childhood story, favorite Bible story, hymn or the Christmas story from Luke 2 to give to a grandchild.
Make and share a favorite food and include the recipe and possibly the ingredients.
Select an item you have had for a long time and give it to someone along with a note of where and when you received it and who gave it to you.
Decorate cookies (even store-bought ones) with a child to deliver to neighbors or shut-ins.
Volunteer to wrap gifts for a busy mother or elderly person.
Cuttings from your favorite plants are special to the recipient.
Children can record a recital piece for out of town relatives.
Make a homemade nativity scene with a child.
Write personal notes to people who have touched you in a special way during the past year.
Start a new Christmas tradition
Do family caroling in the neighborhood on Christmas Eve.
Make an Advent wreath to use in your family worship time.
Decide on a family gift for Jesus such as an offering for missions or an act of ministry.
Design a family Christmas card to hand-deliver to loved ones.
The list is endless. Christmas comes but once a year, however the most important gift we give others and ourselves is to focus on the Christ Child - the One whose birthday we are celebrating.
(EDITOR'S NOTE - Hopkins is a member of the preschool children's ministry team of the Baptist State Convention staff.)
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