Gift-Giving Ideas

I do not know about you, but I find it hard to choose a gift for some people. When a gift giving occasion rolls around, there are some people I want to honor who do not really need anything that I could give them.

A couple of years ago I faced that situation with my oldest son. I could not think of anything he needed that I could buy with the money I had available.

At the same time I heard of an opportunity to give to Nigerian Christian Hospital -- to underwrite a hernia surgery. Doing this would cost about the amount I planned to spend on my son. So, for Christmas that year, Joseph received a certificate stating that someone had been blessed with a needed surgery. That was it. That was his Christmas present, and I think he enjoyed it as much as any he ever received.

Right now, I know of dozens of opportunities like that. I know of a very fine young lady in Tanzania who is trying to get an education so that she can help care for herself and her family, but she needs $50 per week ($200 per month) for rent and food while she is in school. You could tell some of those ‘hard to buy for’ friends that you provided a week or two of room and board in their name. Sponsoring a routine surgery at Nigerian Christian Hospital would cost about the same, $50. Sponsoring a student at school in Zambia is $130 per month. Sponsoring an orphaned infant in Zambia is $75 a month. If you would prefer to provide a bicycle for someone to enable them to go out and preach, $130 will provide a Zambian with a good bike and the basic tools needed to maintain it.

Many of us do not need any more neckties, handkerchiefs, or knickknacks on our bookshelves. So, if you have a few such people on your shopping list, consider giving to an organization that would do something far more worthwhile with the money. You can request a list of such organizations from the office.