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Original Christ-centered Christmas gift ideas are not easy to find.
I feel overwhelmed. That’s how I felt about purchasing Christmas gifts for my six children. I didn’t know if I was supposed to buy them all the same number of gifts or spend the same amount or if it didn’t matter. Even if I could make a decision about how many gifts to buy, what should they be? The number of options was mind-boggling.
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How to Make Gift Decisions
The key to making gift decisions, like any type of decision I’ve learned, is to limit your options. I went shopping for a shampoo with a friend from Spain and she said she loved having so many more choices than she had at home. But she took so. long. to. make. a. decision. There is research that suggests that not only is it easier to make a choice with limited options, but we are more satisfied with our choice in that situation. We can review each option and feel reasonably sure we have made the best decision.
What does this mean for purchasing gifts at Christmas? It means we do well to limit our options. I read about giving children gold, frankincense, and myrrh gifts in a Christian parenting magazine years ago. I loved the idea! Not only did it connect gift giving to Jesus’ birth (the reason we celebrate Christmas), but it limited my options. I could purchase three gifts for each child and I would be done. But not only that. I would also have three categories of gifts to choose from that made sense: something of great value (gold), something to strengthen my child’s faith (frankincense), and something for the body (myrrh).
In telling families about our practice over the years, I’ve found that there are two types of responses: first, that this is more than what families currently buy, and second, that it’s much less than what families currently buy. If your family is content with purchasing one or two gifts per child, please don’t feel you need to change your practice! If you’re overwhelmed by the thought of limiting, let me share this. We give our children a family gift each year. This allows us to give something additional for everyone that wouldn’t necessarily make a good individual gift. We also put small gifts in our kids’ stockings on Christmas Eve. But even these two additional types of gifts have built-in limits that make the gifting decisions easier.
Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh Christ-Centered Christmas Gift Ideas
The first few years we changed our practice were fine. Gold gifts were relatively easy to choose because they were the most expensive or most desired gift for each child. Frankincense gifts were easy for little ones — a kids’ Bible, Bible toys, or games. Myrrh gifts were comprised of bath kits that typically included toys of some sort. But after a while, the frankincense and myrrh gifts didn’t seem like great gifts. I had to expand my definition of what these gifts were about. Because I have, I still love our tradition, even though I have adult kids.
Check out my list of gold, frankincense, and myrrh Christ-centered Christmas gift ideas for kids here. If you’ve already purchased gifts this year, pin the list so you have it for next year.
If you need ideas of gifts that children will love and keep enjoying for years, check out this list of 60 gifts I’ve created from having six kids for over 20 years.
Conclusion
When you limit your gift-buying choices, you can get past overwhelm and actually enjoy purchasing gifts.
Join our 24 Days to A Christ-Centered Christmas group on Facebook HERE!
Looking for more Christ-centered posts, Advent activities and resources?
- This Christmas, I wish you, Christ!
- Prepare Your Heart for Christmas with Abrahams’s Advent
- Free Christmas Kindness Planner
- Christ-Centered Advent Activities for Kids
- 25-day Bible Verses Christmas Calendar for Kids
- 12 Days at The Nativity Study
- How to Celebrate Christmas with A Birthday Party for Jesus
- An Emptied Life: Free Devotional for Mom
- How to Memorize Nativity Bible Verses in A Fun, Easy Way
- How to Make the Most of Your Christmastime Planning
- Prepare Your Heart for A Christ-Centered Christmas: Crafts, Activities & More.
Find Christ-Centered Christmas Decor & Gifts Here:
Fisher-Price Little People A Christmas Story
LED Flameless Nativity Candles – Set of 3Nativity Playset for Children 19 Pieces by BibleToys. Includes Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus. Christmas Toys for ChildrenMelissa & Doug Classic Wooden Christmas Nativity Set With 4-Piece Stable and 11 Wooden FiguresFisher-Price Little People NativityPLAYMOBIL Nativity Stable with MangerKurt Adler 11-Piece Nativity SetThe Nativity StoryThe NativityOutdoor Nativity Store Holy Family Outdoor Nativity Set (Large, Color)EasyGo Large Outdoor Nativity Scene – Large Christmas Yard Decoration Set and Reusable For Many Years!!Winter Wonderland Holiday Nativity Set LED ProjectorNativity Shadow BoxChristmas Holiday Nativity Mason Jar Decal Sticker Set – 24 Sheets2 Dozen (24) Make a NATIVITY SCENE Sticker Sheets Religious Education – VBS CHRISTMAS Party Classroom Activity FAVORS – Holiday GIVEAWAY by OTCCelebrating a Christ-Centered Christmas: Seven Traditions to Lead Us Closer to the SaviorCelebrating a Christ-centered Christmas: Children’s EditionA December To Remember: Creating Christ-Centered Family TraditionsA Christ Centered ChristmasJoy to the World: A Devotional Journal for AdventHow to Create a Christ-Centered Christmas for Your Kids: Practical, Hands-On Activities to Help Your Child Focus on Christ at Christmas12 Gifts for Christ: Traditions, Activities, and Devotionals for a Christ-Centered Christmas12-Day Nativity: Christmas Activities for a Christ-Centered HomeDiscovering the True Spirit of Christmas: Fifteen Minutes a day to a Christ-centered ChristmasChristmas: It’s Jesus’ Birthday, Not Yours (30 Day Devotional Series)Teaching the Gifts of Christmas: A Christ Centered Family Christmas Time TraditionChristmas Without Santa Creating a Christ-Centered Christmas
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Dr. Melanie Wilson is a Christian psychologist turned homeschooling mother of six. She is the author of The Organized Homeschool Life and Grammar Galaxy language arts curriculum and the podcaster behind The Homeschool Sanity Show.
Beth Minyard says
December 9, 2017 at 5:19 pmThis is super helpful, thank you so much for the post!
Ana Willis says
December 9, 2017 at 6:37 pmI’m so glad you liked it! 🙂
Judith Agho says
December 10, 2017 at 4:52 pmThank you for the helpful tips on keeping our celebration Christ centered.
Ana Willis says
December 10, 2017 at 6:14 pmYou’re welcome! It’s time for us to put Jesus back in Christmas!
Amy says
December 20, 2017 at 1:55 pmMy mom was just asking me if I could help her come up with gold, frankincense, and myrrh gift ideas for a party. Thank you for writing that post!