To get some inspiration for Christmas gifts this year, Lisa Skinner turns the Grinch, of all people, but finds his insights worth paying attention to
Having worked as a professional organiser for four years, I saw my fair share of cluttered homes. The items people most often wanted to part with were toys and anything their children had outgrown. It always reminded me of a scene from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Jim Carrey’s Grinch rails against the Whos’ endless consumerism — “That’s what it’s all about isn’t it. That’s what it’s always been about! Gifts, gifts! Gifts, gifts, gifts, gifts, gifts. You wanna know what happens to your gifts? They all come to me. In your garbage. You see what I’m saying? In your garbage! I could hang myself with all the bad Christmas neckties I found at the dump!”
the challenge is learning to give in a way that points them back to what Christmas is really all about
It strikes me that, much like the Whos, we can easily get carried away at Christmas. We love our children and naturally want to give them good gifts, just as our Father in heaven delights in giving good gifts to us. But the challenge is learning to give in a way that points them back to what Christmas is really all about. With that in mind, here’s a selection of gifts to help you do exactly that.
1. The creative gift
The NIV Bible for Journalling and Verse-Mapping is a beautifully bound and thoughtfully designed Bible, with generous white space for notes, reflections, illustrations, or copied verses. It introduces the practice of verse-mapping, encouraging readers to prayerfully select a verse, compare translations, explore the context, including the history and people involved, and then reflect on how the Spirit might apply it to their lives.
There are also verses to colour, space to add artwork, and plenty of creative prompts for Bible journaling. My 15-year-old daughter specifically asked for this type of Bible, and I’m excited to see her enjoy it as she goes deeper into God’s word.
2. The quirky gift
When looking for different gifts on Premier Marketplace I came across some very cool Holy Socks.
I love gifts that bring Bible stories to life in a fun, imaginative way. The Noah’s Ark socks have a clever turnover top that hides a little surprise for the young feet that wear them, roll them up to reveal two giraffes peeking out of the ark. There’s also a Jonah pair, where children can slip their feet into the whale’s mouth and wiggle their toes in the “sea”. Each pair comes with an original story, poem, or meditation on a card to deepen the storytelling.
Perhaps, like the Grinch, we should pause and lament the consumerism that so easily sweeps us along
3. The charity gift
Like many charities, Children of the Nations (COTN) have produced a Gift Catalogue for Christmas this year. COTN is a charity working in Sierra Leone, Malawi, Uganda, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, providing holistic, Christ-centred care for orphaned and vulnerable children. Their mission is to equip these young people to build positive, lasting change within their own communities and nations. Because Christmas is a season of giving, it’s a perfect moment to help our children experience the joy of giving to others.
After looking through the catalogue with my younger two, my six-year-old immediately suggested giving a child a Jesus Storybook Bible for £7. God’s Word is one of the greatest gifts we can place in any child’s hands, something they can read, cherish and grow with.
My eleven-year-old, meanwhile, wants to provide mosquito nets and a Christmas celebration for the children.
For every Gift Catalogue purchase, COTN sends a downloadable card you can print at home, making it easy to share the gift with the recipient.
4. The gift for all the family
One of the most meaningful gifts you can give your family is The Advent Jesse Tree book, with accompanying decorations. We ordered wooden disc Christmas decorations and used acrylic pens to illustrate each day’s symbol, creating 25 ornaments that trace the story of Scripture from the very beginning up to the Christmas narrative. It’s the kind of gift you’ll bring out year after year, forming a tradition everyone can enjoy.
The book includes devotions for both adults and children, to be used by the whole family. This is perhaps a gift that can be passed down through the generations.
5. The gift of memories
Another thoughtful idea is to create a photo book of the past year, woven through with Bible verses that remind your children of God’s goodness and faithfulness. There are plenty of companies that offer photobooks, but I’ve found FreePrints.com to be excellent value for money.
Read more:
10 Christmas tips for Christian parents on a budget
How Christian parents can help young people navigate Christmas stress
Christmas traditions are great but don’t let them bankrupt you
Christmas present ideas for children in Christian families
6. The gift of time
The gift of time is one of the most precious things we can give. Most of us can’t recall what we unwrapped in 2019, but we remember the time we spent with the people we love. We’re hoping to plan a big family trip this summer, and that will likely form part of our children’s Christmas present. A friend of mine once spent a week walking the Camino with her family, it was an incredible shared experience for them. Sadly, we have no walking enthusiasts in our family, so that gift would not be well received. But you know your own family and the type of trip that everyone would enjoy.
Of course, it doesn’t need to be a grand adventure. A simple day out at a local attraction can be just as memorable. Our children love a games night, so even a couple of new board games and a homemade voucher they can redeem for a family games night would go down brilliantly.
I have to admit, I love when friends or family give restaurant, adventure, or movie vouchers as gifts. They leave you with something to look forward to once the Christmas day excitement has passed.
7. The best gift of all
A friend of mine gave her boys the Happyland Nativity set when they were little, and it’s still part of their Christmas traditions today, despite the fact that they’ve long since grown out of Happyland toys. They also keep a wooden Nativity on display in their living room, minus the baby Jesus. On Christmas morning, before any other gifts, the very first thing they unwrap together is that tiny figure, reading the Christmas story as they place him in the manger. I just love that. What a beautiful tradition, and what a great way to keep Christ at the centre of Christmas.
Perhaps, like the Grinch, we should pause and lament the consumerism that so easily sweeps us along and remember his own realisation: “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more.” As children of God, we know it means a lot more, let’s try to point our own children to that truth also.
