Top 5 Religious Gifts for the One You Love on Valentine's Day

No one wants to feel forgotten on Valentine's Day. Gifts are one way to speak love to those you care about most. For those to whom faith is important, carefully chosen religious gifts can express two angles of love: the divine and the human. Remembering your current or future spouse with Valentine's Day gifts that are inspirational is a noble act. It shows that you are paying attention to priorities that matter.

But should you buy the first item you come across in a religious gift store? The most prominently displayed products might not always be the best fit for your mate. Finding an ideal gift becomes easier when you are able to discern what makes it appropriate and meaningful to the person you love. Factors like gender, personal taste, and the state of your marriage need to be weighed when selecting a gift that will best express your love and care. Chosen well, Valentine's Day gifts can surprise and delight the person you love.

The Top 5 Types of Religious Gifts

Whether it is for the man or woman in your life, tying a single rose on top of your gift remains a powerful symbol of romance and affection. What kinds of Valentine's Day gifts might you put underneath? After scouring sites like Christianbook.com and Amazon, several top possibilities emerge.

1. Jewelry

For Christians, hearts and crosses and scripture verses can be a winning combination for this celebration of love. Bracelets with portions of I Corinthians 13 can be ordered from online stores like Christianbook.com. Christianbook's offerings are mostly silver or silver tone and typically fall in the $20 to $75 price range.

For those of other faiths, online stores can offer jewelry and jewelry boxes that affirm their own religious values. Jewish shoppers, for example, can find jewelry boxes with Hebrew inscriptions, as well as designer Jewish jewelry at Canaan Online.

2. Books

Books that teach couples how to strengthen their marriages are abundant. But do you really want your gift to imply that your marriage or sex-life are in dire need of improvement? Possibly, but if that isn't your intended message, look past prescriptive titles in favor of volumes that celebrate love and romance.

Top examples of these are My Lover is Mine: Words and Images Inspired by the Ancient Love Poetry of Solomon, by Aly Hawkins and Ramon DesLauriers and A Season of Love, by Mal Austin. Both of these books combine visual art with Scripture to portray beauty, truth and romance.

If, on the other hand, you think a gentle nudge would be hepful, try kick-starting conversations with a daily flip book. A very popular one for under $13 is Love Talks for Couples, by Gary Chapman and Ramon Presson.

3. Mugs

A drinking vessel is a more practical every day item that costs less than $10. Some spouses like to receive gifts that remind them of your love-and God's-on a frequent basis. Many of these mugs could also be given to a friend.

4. Movies

If you and your spouse enjoyed Fireproof, or wanted to see it but didn't, Valentine's Day might be the time to surprise your husband or wife with the Fireproof DVD. It is being released at the end of January 2009, and could very well become the gift of this year for Christian couples. Expect to pay between $18 and $25 for the new disc.

5. Music

Music and romance often go hand in hand. An album by a favorite inspirational artist seldom goes amiss. If you want to think more globally, CompassionArt: Creating Freedom from Poverty is a new compilation project. According to Musichristian.com, the project was spearheaded by the lead singer of Christian rock group Delirious?. Set to be released in the U.S. on January 27, the album will be out just in time for Valentine's Day. It retails for just under $15.

Or perhaps you get a thrill out of live concerts. The cost is often a bargain compared to secular performances. Check tour dates and you might be able to surprise your husband or wife with tickets to a performance by a favorite group. If there is not a show nearby, perhaps two plane tickets are also in order. Why not shoot the moon and make a weekend out of it?

Source:

"Musichristian.com: Various: CompassionArt: Creating Freedom from Poverty." Musichristian.com