“Priceless” Gifts for This or Any Season!
“Some things money can’t buy – for everything else there’s MasterCard.” Good tagline, and true. There are some “priceless” gifts that can’t be bought with money or plastic. Maybe we should give our plastic a rest and turn our attention to these “priceless” gifts. What gifts are we talking about? Here are a few ideas for starters:
í The Gift of Thanksgiving: Gift wrap a “thank you” in a smile, a hug, a phone call or a personalized card.
í The Gift of Appreciation: Too many good deeds go unnoticed and too many good people go unappreciated. Let others know that you appreciate them, not only for what they may have done for you, but for who they are and how much they mean to you. Appreciation is sweet recognition and a beautiful way to show your esteem for others.
í The Gift of Courage: You don’t need to be the “Wizard of Oz” to give out courage! Just enCOURAGE someone! Reassuring words are a precious gift that can breathe renewed courage and hope into a disCOURAGEd individual.
í The Gift of an Open Ear: One of the greatest gifts you can offer people is to listen to them. As you have no doubt noticed, we were designed by God with two ears but only one mouth. Perhaps we were made to listen twice as much as we speak (simple math!) So be quick to lend an ear and then be patient to listen to every word.
í The Gift of Time: How sad that we spend so much time during the holidays trying to find the perfect gift for our loved ones, when we could be spending that time with our loved ones! Why not give them the gift they need and long for – some extra time and attention. Time is a very special gift because in giving time what you really give is yourself!
í The Gift of Forgiveness: The word “forgive” includes the word “give”. Forgiveness is a gift. And like any true gift, it cannot be deserved, earned or paid back. It is a free gift and yet the most costly of all gifts. Consider what it cost God and His Son to offer us forgiveness! This holiday season, let a bygone be bygone, let go of a grudge, cut your losses, swallow your pride, release someone from the prison of your disfavor. You will be doing yourself a big favor too!
The best thing about these “priceless” gifts is that you don’t have to risk identity theft, fight holiday traffic or long department store lines to find them. Just reach up to God, reach into your heart and reach out to those around you. These gifts will touch people and draw you closer to them and to the Father, the Giver of “every good and perfect gift” (James 1:17). Now, that’s what I call “priceless”…
Rich Howell
