Precious Personal Presents

As families drift apart geographically, it becomes more difficult to choose appropriate gifts at Christmas. Because of our separation from relatives, we do not know what they need or want. There are creative avenues to personalizing your gifts to them.

· Make a scrapbook using the photos you have received of them over the years. Write small messages about how you enjoyed a particular photo, what you thought when you first saw it, or how you prayed for them at that time in their life. Inside the pages, tuck a check or cash you had considered giving them.

· Purchase a “blank book” at a gift store and write out your family history. Include names, places, and dates. Tell amusing stories about relatives and yourself to give personality to the history. Make a treasure hunt within the stories to lead them to a couple of “cash prizes” along the way.

· Make a coupon book that contains coupons they can redeem from you as well as gift certificates to some of their favorite stores or restaurants. The coupons to redeem from you could be items such as:
One dozen of your special cookies
A trip to the local zoo the next time they visit you
Breakfast in bed the next time they are at your home

· Write out your personal testimony. Include how Christ has blessed you throughout your life, even during difficulties. Reflect on the cost of Christmas to those at the birth of Jesus as you describe the true meaning of this precious season.