Blessings and Gifts for Christmas
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh may not be what comes to mind when we are gifting nowadays. They were not only gifts for a king but were significant symbols pregnant with special deep-seated reverent meanings. The gifts brought by the Magi to baby Jesus at His birth denoted His Kingship on earth (gold), priesthood, worship and deity (frankincense), sacrifice, death, and mourning (myrrh, an embalming oil). The symbolism was a foreshadowing of what His life on earth would entail.
Ideally, gift-giving at Advent (Christmas) ought to be more than perfunctory as it ought to be on other occasions too. We gift as a function to show love, friendship, and care among other sentiments though these may extend beyond physical gifts and may assume the nature of gifts in kind. The cost and value of the gift may sometimes reflect the giver’s value of the relationship but it isn’t always guaranteed. Price doesn’t necessarily equate to genuine love or the depth of a friendship, although contrarily, stinginess may just reflect a mingy giver. So is there an ideal gift? Sincerity renders gifts ideal. Gifts from the heart will be right as much thought may lie behind their choice. Equally, gifts of time and effort do make good gifts. Food baskets for the sick, convalescents, and needy including cooked and frozen meals go some way to alleviate anxiety and stress over the preparation of meals in times of need and offer some relief. Food kitchens feeding the homeless, pastoral care for the sick and needy, and humanitarian aid in times of war may fall within this sphere and offer a degree of comfort during difficult climes. A helping hand in an hour of need may be all that is needed to raise hope and provide relief to those in need even if deeper issues exist that require greater assistance (not being covered here) and resolution.
Gifts of time may provide relief for people who are stuck at home with convalescing patients, elderly people, immobile people, mothers in confinement, and special needs cases just to cover a small section of people who may profit from it. Even a couple of hours of relief to allow the homebound to go out on errands can prove invaluable. Apart from alleviating the stress of not having backup help at home to allow freedom of movement, a trip outside to the store or just to stretch one’s legs and free the mind can perform wonders to keep one sane and refresh the spirit. Nothing is more cramping and downspiriting than being trapped in the house over long periods with little or no sight of relief from the entrapment. It can be demoralizing. Paid support is not an available choice for many people because it is outside their budget. It is the privileged few that can afford maid service. It may not be obvious to the outsider that a little gift of time may be hugely appreciated and its good effects are often underestimated so bear such usefulness in mind in appropriate situations.
Spending time with the lonely and friendless counts as a gift of time as well. The marginalized in society are invisible to society as it is easier to discount them and to turn a blind eye to avoid hurting the conscience. Homeless street people benefit from food welfare of food kitchens but long-term more permanent solutions are harder to come by. There is also a balance to be drawn between the provision and dispensing of welfare aid, which is of a bandage-aid nature, and getting to the root causes underlying homelessness in the first place. Conflicts in homes for whatever reason account for some leaving their homes in preference to living on the streets making it a complex situation hard to resolve, even for the authorities. Clearing the homeless off the streets is not simply a public relations project. It is a social problem requiring some professional and expert input to solve alongside community involvement. So if gifting time, it is by comparison, much easier to deal with existing institutions where there already exist administrative mechanisms to cater to visitations where volunteers may read to the blind or pay visits to old folks homes or orphanages to bring some cheer to the residents.
Where the budget is tight but one’s generous heart exhorts one to make a gift, put aside despair and rely on or call forth one’s creative talents to sew a gift such as a tote bag for shopping using scrap or leftover materials, crochet a lace coaster, bookmark or mason jar cover, bake a cake or biscuits, concoct homemade pickles, or dry and ribbon up a spray of mixed herbs from the garden, or even draw a stack of blank greeting cards if one is artistic, for gifts from the home. Yes, these will not break the bank but will require some effort and creativity. Children can be encouraged to be involved. Often, they make adorable graphics for greeting cards. Gifts like these are personal, endearing, and charming. It is a form of teaching them to catch fish instead of giving them fish plus imbuing them with the notion of what makes a gift unique, personal, and special. Besides, it is fun!
As the countdown begins towards Christmas day and you can hear the clock tick-tocking, decide whom you wish to bless with gifts. Of course, being alive and happy are blessings in themselves. But it will soon be Christmas and in the spirit of giving, shower those closest to you with some love and some physical gift manifestation of it. Make it personal this year. Happy gift-making!
More ideas for homemade gifts:
Fudge, nougat, and other candies
Variety of Christmas cookies
Spiced or plain roasted nuts and/or seeds
Christmas breads
Fruitcake
Herbed vinegar or edible oil
Herbed sea salt
Art materials put together (e.g. colored pencils, eraser, drawing paper)
Hobby craft materials (e.g. origami paper)
Christmas trinkets (homemade)
Assorted gift wrap, ribbons, and ties
Embroidered tea towels or T-shirts
Crotchet small animal toys, scarf, hats, socks, coin purses
Sewn items – a set of pillowcases, table runner, pot holders, oven gloves, padded decorated clothe-hangers, hair scrunchies
Bead jewelry (earrings, bracelets, rings, necklaces)
Organic soaps
Organic candles