HOW TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT GIFT
Christmas is fast approaching and many people are shopping for gifts. But there are two steps to buying a gift, I believe. The first, naturally, is being able to set aside money for this. It’s not the amount that matters for with the way the economy is going, saving even the smallest amount is a near impossibility for many. But somehow, we usually scale that first hurdle.
The second step, which I consider more crucial, is choosing the right gift. Picture this: Stella’s friend is getting married on Saturday. After work on Friday, she dashes into a shop and picks up a wall clock for the couple. So do a sizable number of others. I doubt that the poor couple will have enough walls to hang all the clocks and framed posters coming in.
[bctt tweet=”A gift that is carelessly chosen may not be useful to or appreciated by the receiver.” username=”edithohaja1″]
It’s the same with Angela. Her friend has just been delivered of a baby. She gives the family a plastic baby bath. But it’s not their first child and baby baths last and last. So they won’t be needing this one for a few years yet, that is if they ever do.
We can multiply the scenarios but the lesson is the same. A gift is most appreciated when it can be put to immediate and frequent use. This brings to mind a young man who bought some books for his elder sister. When he came to visit some months later, she complained that she had been unable to read most of them. They were simply over her head and failed to speak to her needs at the time. Doubting the correctness of her assessment, he tried to read first one, and then another, without success. He hadn’t even browsed through before buying them. His Parthian shot was, “Not to worry, you’ll grow and catch up with these books someday.” That may be so but meanwhile, the books gather dust on the shelves and the paper inside develops unsightly patches.
The best way to avoid the foregoing is to thoughtfully choose our gifts. What does that mean? We should take time to consider the receivers, their circumstances and dispositions. We can even ask them to verify our conclusions.
It’s true we love to surprise people in these matters but where’s the value or the joy in the surprise when we’re so often off the mark. The real danger in asking the receiver, however, is in his or her sense of modesty getting in the way. Insist on getting only honest answers. And if you’re afraid they’ll make a steep demand, disclose the amount you’re willing to spend.
[bctt tweet=”Where’s the joy or value in surprising people with gifts that are far from what they need?” username=”edithohaja1″]
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(Related: Giving Brings Unparalleled Joy)
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But if you object to this approach, you have an even better option. You can pray and have God guide you into choosing the perfect gift. Remember He gave us our Saviour, Jesus, the best gift we could ever ask for.
“C’mon!” you say, “How can you bring God into something as trivial as giving a gift?”
But He longs to participate in every facet of our lives. And it’s in the details of our lives, in the most ‘secular’ of our endeavours, that we can hone our skills in hearing from Him and relying on His infallible judgment.
How can I be sure of this? Because that’s what I do. I ask Him whenever I want to please someone beyond words, for you see, He knows the receivers even better than they know themselves. Perhaps, you want someone to let out a whoop of delight this Christmas:
“Just what I’ve been praying for. Tried to get it a few times but never had enough money. Bless you, bless you, bless you a million times!”
Or
“Where in the world did you find this? I’ve searched all over for it and given up . How wonderful that I have it at last, thanks to you! Bless you ….!
[bctt tweet=”Choosing the perfect gift requires prayer and thoughtfulness.” username=”edithohaja1″]
Now you know what to do. Meanwhile, have a fun-filled shopping time and a very merry Christmas.
Ⓒ Edith Ugochi Ohaja 2017
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This article was originally published in my book, Feature Writing Simplified, under the title, “What I want for Xmas”. This is a slightly edited version.
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IT’S ALWAYS AMAZING WHEN SOMEONE SURPRISES YOU WITH SOMETHING YOU HAVE BEEN LONGING FOR. GOD IS GREAT WHEN IT COMES TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
Bless you, dear!
Fascinating read! Giving is like a producer trying to satisfy his consumer. The problem with people, l believe, is that they are ignorant of the very essence of gifts. Beyond the surprise, excitement and praises put up by the receiver, begs the question of satisfaction derivable from such gift. I learnt a lot from this piece. I’ve been a culprit all this while.
Lol! Bless you, James!
Oh yes !its also good if you seek for an opinion of a friend of the person you want to get the gift for, this can help too in that case, it can still be a surprise to the person.
Good idea, Ifunanya! I love that!
Imagine a friend who understands you right from favourite color! I still remember my last year’s Christmas gift like it was yesterday. It’s a high time I start preparing my surprises.
Thank God for those kind of friends. Have a wonderful Christmas, Judith!
Well, I credit God helping me paint a flower garden on two walls in my daughter’s bedroom, I am sure He could help me shop! Thank you for the fun post, sister.
Thanks for dropping by and God bless you richly, Tammy, in Jesus’ name.
I always feel happy when I give someone something that he/she needs and actually uses afterwards. Thank you ma for this piece.
Praise God and bless you, Chinenye!
Gift that does not add value to someone is not a gift. you give people gifts that when they see them, you will forever be in their hearts. Gift of value, not irrelivant gift. I pray God directs me on the type of gifts to give to my friends this Xmas. this is really wonderful, ma. Thanks and God bless you.
God bless you much much too, Blessing, in Jesus’ name.
giving someone a gift on special events like Christmas, valentine, birthday means that you have affection for the person. but when giving the gift, try to give valuable things and the person will always appreciate that.
Right. Bless you, Ifunanya!
It is not always easy to know the best item as gift to buy for your friend, relatives or even neighbours but the fact is that circumstances and economic status oftentimes determines what we present as gifts to people. Also, seasons or type of celebrations like birthdays, weddings etc can be a determinant of what to buy as gifts for people.
Right.
LOL……. I remember buying an undersized singlet for my younger brother and an oversize shoe for my mum simply because i wanted to surprise them and did not want to ask them of their sizes. Didn’t know that the little boy has outgrown his age lol……
I felt bad anyway and the joy of the whole gift was lost since the gifts could not fit in its various owners. i more or less wested the resources.
Since then, i learnt my lesson and i don’t fail to ask “what should i get you and what size”? because ‘once beaten, twice shy’ and also to avoid stories that touch!
Thanks for sharing your experience with us, Gift. You are blessed in Jesus’ name.
Amen
I love surprises. There’s this joy you get when someone remembers you and get you something you actually want. In getting a gift for someone,you should also consider the colour. If you get me anything in Orange colour, I will just keep it one side.
Lol! But orange is a beautiful colour. I guess it’s different strokes for different folks.
Gifts should be treated the way news is packaged. We must consider the receiver in order to make our effort fruitful. One area got me thinking here and it says, ‘A gift that is carelessly chosen may not be useful to or appreciated by the receiver”. This is certainly true. Though the receiver might pretend to find it pleasing, but deep inside him/her, it’s not.
When a gift is properly chosen and delivered to the right one, appreciation would be much more granted. Therefore, we should be careful in choosing gifts.
Gifts should be chosen wisely. it doesn’t matter the size or amount, all that matters is how useful it will be.
Giving someone the perfect gift matters a lot. While you might not want to ask the person what you should get because you want to surprise them, it is advisable to ask someone very close to them. I remember the gifts I got when I got admission and was preparing for school. My twin sis got me a food flask, a friend got me a pair of sandals and another friend got me a wristwatch. I’m not a watch person, so, you can guess what happened. I left the watch. It wasn’t because I didn’t appreciate the thoughtfulness that went into it or the money she spent. I simply forgot to put it into my purse. I only remembered when I saw my new roommate putting on her wristwatch.
Where’s the joy or value in surprising people with gifts that are far from what they need? I really accept this question likes its directed to me. Happened once and would not want same scenario to occur again. Knowing the essence of gifting is outstanding and should thus be taken into serious cognizance. This is like a reminder to me. Thanks a bunch Ma!
Before getting a gift for someone consider the kind of person you are getting it for, because people like me that don’t easily appreciate the wrong gift ‘ll get upset over the wrong gift than being exited.
Its always good to consider the person you are buying a gift for before getting the gift for such person. But in a situation whereby you have known such a person for a long time, knowing what he likes and dislikes its always nice to get him/her a surprise gift that will make such a person happy.
surprises can only work perfectly when you know what the person you are giving a gift needs, if not find a way to ask the person what he or she wants. it will really help.
I think we aren’t supposed to know the content of a gift before it is given to us. Having an idea makes it less surprising. That is the fun.
Surprising someone with a gift is really awesome but you also have to be talented when it comes to surprising someone with a gift because you’ve got to determine the kind of gift the individual likes so that when you want to surprise them it’ll look lovely to behold.
Knowing your friends means knowing what they what
Hahahahaha, this reminds me of a new year gift that I got from my uncle, who I was actually meeting for the first time since I was born. I was literally forced to wear the pants hole for him to see the fittings… funny right but I had no choice because to him am still a little girl. But truth be told I don’t even know where that pants hole is right now.
I like this post because I can refer to it time & time again, not just for Christmas gifts but for birthdays, anniversaries & so on. Thanks, Aunty Edith!
Thanks a lot ma,I also have the same problem of getting gifts for people, I usually do not know what to get. I think u have given me an idea of going to God in prayers,bless u ma
Getting gifts for people is really something i have to work on…not just getting gifts but getting the right one. But this article has taught me to meet God in prayer for clarity and wisdom to chose the right gift…thanks ma
Our God is omniscient… All knowing.
As such because he knows the receiver of our gift more than the person even knows himself,we ought to pray for God’s guidance to help us choose the right gift that will be of essential use to the person who receives it.
I think it’s a bad idea to get to know the content of the gift our love ones get for us. Surprises work well when we don’t know the content. That’s the fun of it.
So much truth in this. There is really no point getting a gift for someone just for the heck of it because it would probably end up stored away in the arctic or inside a trunk forever. We have to think outwards when shopping for presents and not inwards (what we would prefer for ourselves instead of the needs of the other person). Selfless thoughts should be given to every present in line with the receivers personality and interests to elicit the right kind of emotions and appreciation.
The value of every gift is relative to the user. This is why asking somebody what he values before buying it as a gift even when you want to surprise the person. There should be a cunning way to find out what he need. may GOD BLESS YOU MA
surprise is good…….but you will be doing yourself A favour by asking one or two persons related to whoever your surprise is for. i remember how my sister’s husband bothers us everytime he wants to get my sister or my mum something.
It is most times difficult to determine the right gift to give someone; the one that will appeal to the person especially during Birthdays, xmas, Easter etc. However, with the above instructions and suggestions in the post, i can say the solution has come. Thank You Ma for the Solution.
Great tips Ma, I love surprises, but some surprises can just be something else. If you don’t really know the person you are buying a gift for, you can easily ask the person indirectly: I do this a lot and its fun. But God is the ultimate because He is all-knowing.
LOL…I doubt that the poor couple will have enough walls to hang all the clocks and framed posters coming in. this part got me, gift are supposed to be cherished and when it’s not like that then its useless… if you want to buy a gift for someone and you don’t know what he or she wants or need please ask because if you eventually purchase what they don’t want then you did nothing other than wasting resources and time.
Nice suggestions in ways to get a gift for someone because I always do a bang up job in that aspect.
I never knew praying to God to guide me when buying gifts for someone was really necessary. Thanks for educating me Ma.
Buying people gifts that will be of importance to them is of prime importance… We should always seek to understand what will be useful to our loved ones or at most psyche them indirectly to ascertain wat they like.
Gifts add value to someone… Such an interesting piece ma… I love d tips ma… Keep it up.
Gifts are chosen based on circumstances and situations . Again it is being chosen based on gender and class of people. It is a very nice write up ma. We can always give out something to people no matter the financial status of the receiver or the giver.
it very important to consider what someone like before getting a parcel or gift for that person because it gives joy when what you gave someone is appreciate even though if it is small,than making someone angry in the name of surprise.
I think surprise packages should be done after a close examination and inquiries of the subject, it could be through discussion or observation. This period of observation is done to know what and what are the needs of the subject, this will of course guide in providing a surprise package for him or her. This is why surprise gifts are best chosen well by a close friend.
There is this special excitement and joy when someone gives you a present you’ve always wished for. Can remember when i was little my dad bought a bicycle for me as a Christmas present, I was so excited that I fell down and injured myself while running to tell my friends. Lol
THIS STORY IS VERY SWEET AND FUNNY, IT MADE ME TO REMEMBER HOW A FRIEND OF MINE BOUGHT ME A SHOE THINKING THAT SHE HAS IMPRESS ME WITH THE SHOE WITHOUT KNOWING THAT THE SHOE IS NOT MY SIZE,SO FUNNY IT WASN’T FUNNY. SHE SAID PUT YOUR LEG LET ME SEE THE FITTING AND I DID BUT UNFORTUNATELY FOR HER THE SHOE WAS TOO SMALL FOR ME AND HER MOOD CHANGE INSTANTLY .I GUESS WITH THIS STORY I TOO HAVE LEARNT HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT GIFT FOR A FRIEND.
A gift is best appreciated when it’s being put to immediate use and this demands going very close to the person and trying to find out his or her immediate needs at the moment because gift without appreciation and use is valueless. Really learnt Alot from this piece MA!
Getting gifts for people especially those close and special to me has never been an easy one because then, I will have to crack my head to get that perfect gift for them. Most times, I succeed and often times, I end up getting them what I didn’t know they already had much to my disappointment. This post has opened my eyes to see that God can also be involved in my gift-making decision when I consult Him on it. Thank you very much ma.
Before we give out gift, we should make sure we know what the recipient of the gift likes,only then can we know the perfect gift for the person, we should also try and buy long lasting gift that will be useful to the person receiving the gift.
Most times i don’t even know the gift to give someone, but now that i have read this and i know how valuable a gift can be to a person’s life i am going to be more careful, i will also seek people’s opinion, this one is number 1. my friend’s birthday is coming up i think my gift should leave an imprint in his life
The perfect gift is not usually the most expensive, it’s not that gift that was meticulously selected and made,it’s the gift that comes at the right time. The perfect gift might just be a#50 pen to someone who’s stranded in the exam hall or a new footwear to someone who’s stranded along the road. Whether packaged or not,the perfect gift can never be forgotten by the recipient. It is important that we seek God’s guidance in selecting gifts for our loved ones
A gift should be well thought about before it should be given out, you shouldn’t just give any gift on mere assumption. At the end of the day what matters most should not be the financial cost of a gift, but its representation and what that person means by offering that gift
I find it difficult to come up with the idea of the perfect gift. Thank you ma, you just solved that. I once wanted my little sister to appreciate me and I needed something to make her always remember me, but the present I sent her didn’t help but worsen the situation. I don’t want that to happen again.
There is this feeling one gets when someone gets you a gift that is exactly your style, you will be like “wow”. Praying before getting someone a gift is also very good, it can inspire you and help you make the right decision. This article has helped me and guided me through choosing the right gift for the right person.
This article has helped me and guided me through choosing the best gift for the right person. Prayers can also go a long way in choosing a gift, after prayers, one can get inspired and the spirit of God would guide the person.
I have never felt that prayers are needed when choosing the right gift for the right person, well I will start that method and see if it will also work for me.
This is a nice write – up.MAY God bless u for his mesage
Now I know how pick the right gift for the right person. Bless u ma
We all need directives on selecting what suits us best. Prayers are perfect guides that helps us choose the right gift. Bless you ma for your inspiration.
Its not bad if we ask our friends what they like as a gift and also surprise them with it, its also not bad if we surprise them without asking them. I pray that God surprises us with all that we need.
This a wonderful write up ma. We find out that there are certain gifts you give someone and the person will not have any need for it. We should try and give out gifts that will be of great importance and value to people at that particular time.
Gift is an expression of love. it is important to give people what they really really need not what everyone else gives to the person because you think it is right for the occaision. For example; during my parents wedding ceremony, we were told that most of the people who came brought diapers, hilarious isn’t it? this is because people think that its the perfect gift for the occaision.
Even after getting a gift that may not be of use to you at that particular time or later in the future, one should at least be grateful for the persons intention of getting that particular gift for you, for you don’t know what the person passed through before getting the gift.
Fascinating indeed….Its advisable to give the person what he/she utmostly crave for, something that is beyond what others presented in a wedding or birthday as the case may be. It will be highly appreciated as its what he/she needs and not want.
There is a saying ‘when you know your friends you know what they want’. For a gift to worth its value it must fit the occasion and it must be your friend’s favorite present. Your post has really provided an insight on how to go about choosing a gift. Wonderful post ma
The steps you outlined here ma to take before choosing the perfect gift are very crucial. To be frank, I was surprised when you mentioned asking God for direction before choosing a gift but after you gave the reasons why, I was convinced. It is nice to get a gift for someone that he or she will never forget.
The Bible said that it is in giving that we receive ,so I think we should always give out things to people who need them whether they received it with good heart or not ,it is only God who rewards us and his reward is everlasting.
Giving the right gifts is the best part of giving gifts. It inspires love in the heart of the receiver. But just giving gifts anyhow can bring dishonor and no appreciation. It will be better to wait to give the right gift. I choose asking God because people can never be trusted to tell you the real truth unless you ask codedly. And asking them also often spoils the surprise.
Gifts can be a way of passing a message to someone. It is an expression of love. A gift presented to one when the person is in need of that particular thing will add a value to ones life and will be more appreciated.
For you to choose the perfect gift, the giver should also know the tastes of the receiver instead of springing surprises with gifts that are of little or no use to the person.
In everything we do in life, we need God to guide us and choosing the perfect gift isn’t an exception, when we want to choose a gift for someone we think about it and also pray to God’s guidance so we don’t make mistakes
As you study your friends, try to know things they love. Gifts are amazing when given to friends and loved ones.
When giving a gift, it’s not how expensive it is that matters, what really matters is how immediate and frequently will the receiver use it.
Our gift should be a gift that makes an impact to a person’s life we don’t give because the bible said is better to be a giver than a receiver but we give to make an impact.
Having a friend or people who knows you sometimes more than you know yourself is just a great blessing. They know what to surprise you with and get you crying with joy and vice versa. Givers also never lack. Just like you receive from people, one should also have the spirit of giving because in doing that, you are blessed abundantly by God.
Gifts should be chosen wisely, therefore give to others what you would want them to give to you, and give it with humility
When you have the spirit of giving definitely you will receive abundantly. In the act of giving, let’s try and present something that will created a great impact in the life of a receiver.
It is not always easy to know the best gift to buy for your friend, relatives and its disappointing when they arent using the gift you end up getting for them. It has happened to me a lot. So its better you ask a close friend of the person involved so as to have a clue….
To give is actually to listen. That’s how one knows the perfect gift for a loved one. Also gifts are a reflection of thoughtfulness. A carefully thought out gift gives the impression that you are actually thinking about the person. I’ll keep being more thoughtful in my choices
A gift should be something special or useful. It is better appreciated if a gift is something that will be useful for a long period of time. Before we give gifts, it should be given a thought