If there’s ever a time to be generous, Christmas is it. We celebrate this holiday to commemorate the costliest present of all—Almighty God, choosing to share His only Child with every single sinner (John 3:16). It’s only fitting to show our appreciation by reflecting that same generosity toward each other.
Giving is always a blessing.
But when any merchandise you may set eyes on is costing more than it ever has, swiping that credit card to purchase holiday gifts can seem risky. How can we justify spending yet more money when inflation has gobbled up what puny discretionary money we managed to accumulate?
Good point.
Thankfully, gift-giving isn’t limited to the monetary kind. Consider these three examples. They require minimal financial sacrifice but yield maximum satisfaction:
1. Talents and Accomplishments
Emphasize your loved ones’ unique capabilities. What talents do they possess? Where have they shone lately? What kind of dreams are they working on? Once you discover the answer, highlight these to the best of your ability.
As an example, if your straight-A niece made the Dean’s list last semester, plaster your social media with the news. Make a big deal out of her accomplishment. Interview her. What motivated her to work hard in school?
Feature her story on whatever social media channel you’re on. It’s human nature to enjoy talking about ourselves. Even if your niece is a shy girl, if you show genuine curiosity, chances are, she would allow you to spotlight her success story.
If you know that your friend—an aspiring comedian—dreams of having his own show, contact comedy clubs around you. Is there anything you can do to help him book this show? Even if you fall short of the goal, getting him connected with insiders in the industry might serve as a sweet Christmas present.
The point is, consider giving your loved ones the meaningful present of well-deserved recognition from the world around them.
2. Your Presence
How many people feel lonely?
Answer: the majority of America.
Like you might expect, the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lockdown exacerbated loneliness. Even though the world has pivoted to virtual meetings since then, one particular survey shows how for some, remote contact worsened—instead of alleviated—their loneliness.
Ours is a lonely world.
So, consider your Christmas gift list. Is there a single parent? How about a senior citizen or awkward adolescent? Consider offering the gift of your flesh-and-blood presence to them. This can take the form of arranging for a potluck, catching up over coffee, taking a stroll together, or offering to run errands for them.
If you must—maybe because the other person lives a few states away—utilize technology to connect.
Don’t let the concept seem underwhelming to you. Staying present and open to someone else is invaluable. Listen to the wisdom from David Augsburger: “Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable.”
Your uninterrupted presence—sharing heartfelt time with your loved ones and fully listening to what they have to say—is a costly present.
Take it from a psychologist who listens for a living.
3. Prayers
As you spend quality time with the people on your list, you can also ask for their prayer requests. Be bold in your prayers in asking God to meet their needs.
Sometimes we pray with timidity because we’re juggling a few question marks inside. Will God greenlight my prayers? How would I know? Is this even His will for them? But Scripture shows how to solve this problem. If we pray according to the will of God, He will hear us—and grant our requests (1 John 5:14-15).
But what if the requests you obtained are something you’re unsure about? Maybe the single mom you visited had a son—and the little boy’s wish is for her mom to get married so she wouldn’t have to work all the time.
How can you know whether this is God’s will for the single woman?
What should you pray for when you’re not even sure how?
Cue the Holy Spirit. He knows how to pray for all of our deepest needs: “The Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (Romans 8:27). Listen to the Spirit’s specific instructions to include in your intercession.
Once you know what to pray, do it in faith (Hebrews 11:6) and do it frequently. Observe how these verses demonstrate an obvious bond between prayers and the desired outcome: “Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner” (Hebrews 13:18-19, ESV, italics added).
Did you catch it? The writer of the book of Hebrews urged the reader to pray so that he would be restored soon.
As James described it, “you don’t have because you don’t ask God” (James 4:2). The opposite is likewise true. Ask—so that you’ll receive the answer (Matthew 7:7-8).
Beyond Christmas
Giving your loved ones the gift of your prayers comes with an additional perk: the opportunity to circle back and hit repeat. After you pray for those you visited, you can return to the same people—repeating step 2 above as many times as you’d like—and check for updates to their prayer requests.
Has there been any answer from above?
If the response is yes and hooray, guess what? You’ll get to share their joy.
This is why this particular option of gift-giving is attractive. Not only will your gift serve as a precious Christmas present, it also has the potential of deepening your relationship with the recipients. The emotional bond that emerges when two individuals expose their hearts to each other is hardy.
Especially if you keep nurturing that relationship.
Whatever gift or gifts you end up giving, don’t let their monetary value command the last word. Reserve this spot for Jesus’ instead: “It’s more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
Merry Christmas!
Photo Credit: Unsplash/JESHOOTS.COM
Audrey Davidheiser, PhD is a California licensed psychologist, certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist, and IFSI-approved clinical consultant. After founding and directing a counseling center for the Los Angeles Dream Center, she now devotes her practice to survivors of trauma—including spiritual abuse. If you need her advice, visit her on www.aimforbreakthrough.com