Small Budget, Big Gift

by Brandon Jubar

High school is the greatest time of your life... especially when you've already had your 20-year class reunion and you only remember the good things that happened! But even though I sometimes forget the pressures and struggles of my teenage years, I do remember what it was like trying to find a nice gift for my parents when I had very little money to spend. Now that I'm a parent myself, I'd like to share an idea with you that I wish I would've had when I was in high school.

There's No Time to "Find"

I think it's safe to say that most parents are busy these days. In fact, if we say we'll do something when we "find the time", then chances are good that it will never get done. There just isn't any time to be found. If we want to do something, we have to sacrifice something else and make the time to do it.

So why not give your parents a gift that encourages them to make time do something important? Why not give them a reason to do something that will improve their own lives and maybe even improve life around your house as well? Why not give them a gift that shows that you love them, and then helps them see that God loves them too?

Create a Prayer Basket

Start by making a trek to your local discount store (Big Lots, Value City, or whatever you have in your area) and purchase a gift basket. You can usually get a decent sized basket for $2 or $3. While you're there, you may want to pick up a roll of colored cellophane wrapping if you don't have any around the house. You'll be creating a gift by filling the basket with a number of items that will encourage your parents to take time to pray.

To line the basket, you can use shredded paper or, if the basket is large enough, a fleece throw. Especially around the holidays, you can usually find them for under $5. Why would you put a fleece blanket in a prayer basket? Because the goal is to encourage your parents to slow down and spend a little quality time with God. And it's hard to curl up in a fleece blanket without slowing down!

Next, you'll want to include something to sip on, like tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. You can usually find a variety of flavors in individual servings either at a discount store or in your local grocery store. Specialty cocoa, for instance, is often 2 or 3 packets for $1. If you're feeling a bit generous, include a holiday mug as well.

And finally, you need to include a book or two. If you don't have a Catholic Bible around your house, then you may want to include something like My Daily Catholic Bible, which has a reading plan that will have your parents through the entire bible in one year. If you already have a bible available, then you will probably want to include a book like A Catholic Guide to the Bible, which will help your parents understand scripture.

If your budget is a little bigger, I would also suggest including a book of short, daily meditations that can be read in a minute or two before your parents start their day. The book I use is Minute Meditations for Each Day, by Bede Naegele. It's a wonderful little book that has a short meditation for each day of the year.

Take your basket, line it with paper or the fleece blanket, and arrange the goodies so that the book is in the center (include a book mark if you wish). Take the entire basket and wrap it in the colored cellophane and tie it at the top with ribbon. You've created a wonderful prayer basket that your parents can use every day of the year, and you did it all for less than $25.

Finishing Touches

As a finishing touch, write a short letter to your parents, put it in an envelope that you've decorated yourself, and attach it to the outside of the basket. In the letter, tell your parents how much you love them... and let them know that you would consider it a wonderful gift if they truly made an effort to use the things in the prayer basket every day. Tell your parents how important you think it is for them to make time for God. After all, He sent us His son, which is really what Christmas is all about.

Life Applications:

What was the best gift you've ever received? Why was it the best?
What was the best gift you've ever given? Why was it the best?
What else could you include in a prayer basket?

Copyright 2005-2008 by Brandon Jubar
All rights reserved.