A Free Inexpensive Present that is a Token of Love

Is there any nicer combination of words than "Christmas Time." Not for me. I absolutely love this season. I love the comfort of a fleece jacket, the glitter of tiny lights and new snow, the comforting scent of pine and cinnamon. And I love the word itself. Christmas. For me, the day is all about three things - love, light and hope.

And, oh yeah, the gifts! Okay, I admit it. I love getting presents. I love the wrapping paper and pretty ribbons and the mystery, especially the mystery. What could possibly be in that oblong box? Is that umbrella-shaped gift really an umbrella or a cleverly disguised music CD? Of course, my favorite present is and always has been a book. The mystery is not in the shape but rather the intriguing content.

The best thing about a present is the knowledge that a good friend or family member took the time from a busy life to search for just the right gift for me. A gift is more than just a thing to add to my collection of other things. A gift is a sentiment. It is an acknowledgment of a connection between two people. A present is a tangible representation of an intangible emotion. That's why I cherish gifts from special people in my life. The value of the gift is not it's cost but the feelings it generates inside me. It may sound cliche, but it really is the thought that counts.

Christmas time also reminds me of the gifts of nature, especially light. Humans cannot survive without light. We need the sun. Christmas represents the return of the sun. It's at this time of year that the long, long nights of winter are reversed at the Winter Solstice. The days start to get longer, the nights shorter. Nature is saying, "Hope is alive. The darkness will only reach so far. The light returns."

And let us not forget that Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus. Christians believe He was born to the Earth to connect with all people. His very life was a gift. He was Light because when times are dark we can make it through if we remember His message of Love and Hope. Christ was not about the gift of things, but the gift of Himself, of His time on Earth.

Ultimately, Time is the best gift of all. Time spent doing something you love or, better yet, being with someone you love. Since Time is precious but free why not present the people you love with the best gift of all. You. Make a gift of your time this Christmas. It's free, inexpensive, and easy. It will generate memories far more beloved than any thing you could ever buy.

Here's one way to present the Gift of Time. Give your loved one 2 redeemable "Time Tokens." On one side of the token I suggest a picture of a star or sun (such as the image that accompanies this article). Remember, before we had clocks we measured time by the light and location of the sun and stars. And it was a star that guided the Magi with their gifts to the Christ child. On the other side should be space to write the Time activity to be redeemed.

Why two tokens? Well, the first token is about the time you would like to spend with your friend or family member. Remember, it should be something the other person loves to do. And be sure it's an activity that requires communication and/or interactivity. A movie or play is okay but time spent sitting in the dark not speaking isn't what this gift is about. How about taking the gift recipient to the zoo or a museum or for a gentle walk in the park. Parents and adults can spend time passing along learned knowledge to a child such as how to knit or explaining the inner mysteries of a car engine. If you've been working long hours, how about giving the gift of an intimate evening to your partner.

The second token is about the time that person wants to spend with you. I think this is an especially good gift for parents to give to children. More than anything children desire and deserve your time. The activity requested by your child will speak volumes about your relationship with your kids. And you'd be surprised at the activities requested by your adult friends and family members. They're usually simple things like let's bake double chocolate chip cookies together or a spend a day fly fishing.

Remember, this Gift of Time spent together is not about tangible things. Don't promise to spend a day shopping for a car for your teenager or for a drill or a necklace. The gift of time is about getting closer to the person you love. It's about being together. It's about giving of yourself without asking for anything is return.

This Gift of Time will not only make you feel good but it will present a wonderful message to the person you're giving the gift too. You'll be saying to that person, "Spending time with you is an important part of my life." And isn't that what having a family and friends is ultimately all about.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

1. Adobe Photoshop Elements or some other software that will allow you to open and print the star image or make your own
2. Printer
3. Recycled cardboard - for example, a cereal box
4. Glue stick
5. Token images, back and front (sample provided)
6. Color pencils, markers or acrylic paints (optional)
7. Metallic gold marker (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Download the Star Token image that accompanies this article. For a Mac just click & hold on the image and then drag & drop to your desktop. For Windows you can right-click till a menu pops up. Then click on "Save Image as" and download to the desired folder.

2. Open the image or create your own image in appropriate software program. I used Adobe Photoshop Elements to create this image. Use whatever graphic program you are familiar with. You can also use Word or Powerpoint.

3. Make sure your page setting is on 8 1/2" x 11" paper or whatever size paper you'll be printing on.

4. Decide how many "Time Tokens" you'll need. You can decrease the token size if desired. Then copy and paste the "Time Token" image as many times as will fit on your paper.

5. You can color the images before you print by using the coloring options of the software. If you prefer, you can color the images after printing using color pencils, pens or paint. A metallic gold marker for outlining adds a nice touch either way.

6. Print as many tokens as you'll need.

7. Using a recycled cereal box or some other cardboard, cut out circles that are the same size as the token images.

8. Cut out and glue one front and one back image to each cardboard circle. Let dry.

9. Present the tokens to the recipient in a pretty little envelope, a nicely wrapped small box or some other special packaging. You can even punch a small hole at the top, thread with ribbon and hang them on the tree. You can explain the concept verbally to the recipient or, using a curvy font, print out a written explanation such as the one below. You can, of course, edit the message as desired.

There is nothing I cherish more than Time spent with you. You are special to me and I can't express how happy I am to have you in my life. Being with you always makes my day better. I would, therefore, like to present you with these two Time Tokens. They represent the Gift of my Time, redeemable whenever you choose. The first is a Gift of Time spent together that I believe will give you joy and happiness. The second is a Gift of Time of your choosing. I look forward to the hours we'll be together. Merry Christmas.

I hope this idea will create an atmosphere of joy and peace for you and your loved ones. And I thank you very much for taking the time to read this article. Merry Christmas!