We are a culture that is consumed with material things. We are almost convinced that if we can’t hold it, it’s not valuable. Think about it; most of what you buy will be out of style in a year, at Goodwill in three years, stored away in boxes waiting to be thrown away when you move, or put in a safe-deposit box so that you hardly even remember you have it. Things will be forgotten in a closet, left in a park, broken through mishap, and the list goes on.

Think about it; there is very little we can actually use or enjoy at one time. Most of what we give goes right through the receiver’s hands quickly. Now, I am not saying be a scrooge, but I am saying, go deeper, make your most important gifts, the ones you spend the most time on, the ones that have the potential to be mostly timeless and less material.

Here are five bare-bones ideas—be creative with them.

Promise and Potential Card—Simply build a card that states plainly and clearly what potential you see in the one you love. Look deeply into their genus and define what you think they might look like in 5, 10, 15 years. Tell them about some respected person they remind you of. Do such an awesome job with how you write, that they would want to put it in a safe place for a good long time.   

The Memory You Treasure The Most, Photo Album—Take some old pictures of those who are special to you and build a small photo album. In the album, tell your most treasured memory of them and why they mean so much to you.  

Create a Pod-cast—Create a pod-cast of sorts, of your voice speaking personally, concerning the deep feeling and affection you have for them. If you are good at this kind of thing, lay some music behind your voice. Don’t just shoot from the hip; write some thoughts down, go over it many times so when you record yourself, your words and emotions are deep with texture—make these words outlast you.

Create a DVD—If you have the skill and equipment and are able to, go to a place that was important to them and, from there, tape a short DVD. Let them know just how valuable they are to you and how treasured your memories of them are.  

Give a Day, Give a Date—Create an enormous card or even homemade pamphlet where you place a schedule of a whole day with someone in your family. Fill one page with each event. With every page, let them see some activity you wish to share with them. A sort of date road map for wife, son or daughter.

(If you have other ideas would you mind passing them along to me so I can use them for future Christmases?)