Give the Gift of Memories

Of all the Christmas gifts I've ever received, one memory is treasured above all others. I was thirteen years old, and my older brother proudly presented me with his gift. It was a large, heavy, beautifully wrapped box. I eagerly tore into it, only to find another, and inside that box was another, and another. After opening about 15 boxes, one inside of another, I arrived at the next obstacle to my gift. My brother had sealed my gift with ten pounds of plaster of Paris. He smiled and handed me a hammer. I pounded away for the next 20 minutes or so until I arrived at his other barriers. The next boxes were sealed with pounds of wax, layers of duct tape, masking tape, scotch tape, and aluminum foil. It seemed like hours passed before I finally arrived at my prized possession.

Other Christmases have been creative too, as I was sent on scavenger hunts to find my gifts. Some years poems led me to my gift and other years it was puzzling clues. Regardless of the technique used, I highly treasure the memory of the search, rather than the memory of the gift. Someone who loved me dearly invested a great deal of time to plan my surprise.

As teens, we didn't have a great deal of money to spend on each other, but we gave gifts that have lasting memories. I challenge you this Christmas to give gifts that will be memory makers. I've listed a few ideas that you can give to your siblings, parents, grandparents, pastor, youth director, principal, or teachers. Be creative and let these ideas spark others.

1. Make a music tape or CD of all the kids in your family or youth group singing.

2. Take individual pictures of all the members of your youth group or class and have each member write a brief note of gratitude to the chosen leader. Place the notes beside the pictures in a photo album.

3. Make an 8 x 10 picture of your high school class and have each member sign it. Send it, along with a note of gratitude, to each teacher you've had since kindergarten.

4. Take pictures of each family in the church and ask them to write notes of gratitude to the preacher. Place the notes beside the pictures in a photo album.

5. Make a video for a teacher, the youth director, or preacher. Ask members of the church or youth group to say a few words expressing their love and gratitude.

6. Write poems which express your love or write letters of gratitude. Send the gift of words with some homemade fudge or cookies.

7. Give a book of homemade coupons to your sibling or parents. “This coupon entitles the bearer to….”

8. Give out certificates for free snow shoveling, grass mowing, or window washing to elderly members of your church.

9. Buy a calendar for that year and have members of the church write a note of encouragement, a Bible verse, or a funny saying on various days. Present it to your preacher.

10. “Twelve Days of Christmas” Wrap twelve small gifts or promise coupons and let your sibling open one a day until Christmas.