Jesus Came To Save The World; So Can You (Through These Christmas Gift Ideas)
I Hate Christmas.
Ser-prize, ser-prize.
Oh, it was great fun until I became the Sole Person Responsible For Meeting Every Single Felt Need Within A 47 Million Mile Radius.
Personally, I would like to go back to believing in Santa. I sure could use his help with the planning and the shopping and the stressing and the finding seventeen kinds of meaning all wrapped up in a personalized set of plates.
But in lieu of Santa, I've got my World Vision catalog in one hand and a cup of hot snark in the other.
Doggone it, the people in my life are gonna start caring about the world whether they want to or not.
FAY LEECE NAHV EE DAHD!
Let's start with my brother. He always "claims" that I laugh like a chicken. So why shouldn't he get one?
For that matter, he was often sent outside during mealtimes to eat with the pigs. Merry Christmas, dear brother. Here's your pig. Oink, oink.
And for the rest of my relatives? Who shall remain nameless? I'm giving them a donkey.
Hey!
If it was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me.
What did you think I was talkin' about?
Well.
All nonsense aside, there are some gifts you can buy for the people in your circle that do mean something and don't take up space in the closet. Here are some ideas to consider:
Ser-prize, ser-prize.
Oh, it was great fun until I became the Sole Person Responsible For Meeting Every Single Felt Need Within A 47 Million Mile Radius.
Personally, I would like to go back to believing in Santa. I sure could use his help with the planning and the shopping and the stressing and the finding seventeen kinds of meaning all wrapped up in a personalized set of plates.
But in lieu of Santa, I've got my World Vision catalog in one hand and a cup of hot snark in the other.
Doggone it, the people in my life are gonna start caring about the world whether they want to or not.
FAY LEECE NAHV EE DAHD!
Let's start with my brother. He always "claims" that I laugh like a chicken. So why shouldn't he get one?
For that matter, he was often sent outside during mealtimes to eat with the pigs. Merry Christmas, dear brother. Here's your pig. Oink, oink.
And for the rest of my relatives? Who shall remain nameless? I'm giving them a donkey.
Hey!
If it was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me.
What did you think I was talkin' about?
Well.
All nonsense aside, there are some gifts you can buy for the people in your circle that do mean something and don't take up space in the closet. Here are some ideas to consider:
- For teachers: School supplies ($30) for a child in the US; art and music instruction ($20) for children in El Salvador, Mozambique, or Romania
- For coaches: Two soccer balls ($16) for impoverished children; two basketballs ($16) for kids in the US; one bicycle ($85) for girls in Cambodia or India to get to school
- For gardeners: Seeds for impoverished farming families ($17) in countries like Thailand, Lesotho, and Zambia; ten fruit trees ($60) for families in El Salvador, Myanmar, or Zambia
- For coworkers: Job training for girls and women ($25) in at-risk situations
- For adoptive families: Food, clothing, and HIV-prevention education ($25) for orphans in countries like Chad, Ghana, or Lesotho; education for orphans ($35) throughout Africa
- For fashionistas: $490 worth of clothing and shoes ($35) for children living in extreme weather conditions
- For medical personnel: Basic immunizations ($41) for families in developing countries; malaria prevention ($20) for one family
Each one of these donation items comes with a personalized card you can give the recipient, letting them know about their "gift." I recommend taping the card to a big ol' hunk of dark chocolate.
JOY TO THE WORLD.
I am in no way connected to World Vision; I just happen to be fascinated by their "goods."
Help me out. If you were to give a gift like this, what would you give, who would you give it to, and how would you give it?
More tips and tricks over at Rocks In My Dryer.
Peace on Earth, man.
JOY TO THE WORLD.
I am in no way connected to World Vision; I just happen to be fascinated by their "goods."
Help me out. If you were to give a gift like this, what would you give, who would you give it to, and how would you give it?
More tips and tricks over at Rocks In My Dryer.
Peace on Earth, man.
6 comments:
What some beautiful ideas! Far too many people get caught up in the "junk" you give/get for Christmas. Helping others is so much more rewarding. God bless you for having such insight!
You may remember that last year we gave the grandparents Operation Christmas Child Boxes. We filled them up, and took a picture of our kids in front of them. Then I made a 5 X 7 print and bought a $1 frame. We told our folks to think of the kids that were blessed in their honor all year long when they looked at that photo. It was one of my favorite gifts to give ever!
Thanks for the Teacher's Gift idea, since I have to get one this year for the first time ever!
Hmmm... if I was being extra snarky, I would give a goat to my MIL ;) Perhaps a rabbit or some chicks for my niece.
Love it. We do it every year to honor my dad and my sister because they were way better at giving than the rest of us. And now that my kids are old enough, they are going to start picking an animal out that they want to give for their grandparents. I'm totally with you!
I have the same catalog on my desk, waiting for me to choose. Ironically...
Last year I wanted to do this for both sets of my inlaws (husband's parents divorced and re- and re-re-married.) He dissuaded me because they're not Christians, and he thought they might not appreciate the concept. THEN my FIL and his wife (nature lovers) did a 'save the dolphins' donation in MY name for Christmas!
I feel so FREE this year!
Yes, dolphins are nice. But I believe it's more meaningful and important to help people... I think I'll be giving a donation toward education/school supplies in their names this year :0)
This is why I just Love your blog!!
Another good one is "The Heifier Project".
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