The Lost Art of Gift Giving

With birthdays and events, the pressure is always on the give the perfect gift. Just a reminder that it’s not the cost but the heartfelt sentiment. It’s easy to say, but so many are guilted and guided by the price tags. Times are tough and we should all give ourselves and each other a break.

Every event is an opportunity to teach our kids about the beauty of handmade creativity. Remember the amazingly creative, heartfelt gifts we gave to our parents, grandparents, friends and teachers when we were kids. They were gifts given with genuine love, thought and, often, for no special reason. Somehow as we grew up, the concept of gift giving got lost. And it’s quite blurred during this 2-week rush.

Dr. Gary Chapman, who authored The Five Love Languages describes gift giving as a fundamental expression of love that transcends all cultures. Gifts are visual symbols of love. Something you can hold in your hand and say, “Look, he was thinking of me,” or, “She remembered me.” You must be thinking of someone to give a gift. The gift itself is a symbol of that thought. Cost is not the important part. It’s that you thought of someone, the thought expressed by actually getting and giving the gift is the expression of love.

Here’s to bringing that spirit back and celebrating the special people in our lives. Start with the sentiment and the rest will follow. And get creative with the kids, encouraging them to make instead of always purchasing.