by Denys Trowbridge

Created on: November 09, 2008   Last Updated: November 13, 2008

What do you do for the person who has everything? You know the type. Mine was my Grandpa. We bought him new clothes. He gave them to Goodwill. We bought him gifts and later found them stuffed in nooks and crannies all over the house still wrapped. So what do you do for the person who has everything and yet you desperately want to touch their heart because you love them?

With the holidays the idea of what to buy is filtering through a lot of hearts and minds right now. Cost is sometimes a factor. Here's some creative suggestions for you. Some are expensive and some are not because it isn't the gift it is the heart that counts,

Why not gather your photos together and make a memorable calendar that can be enjoyed all year? Maybe if your sneaky there can be photos of your loved ones as children, at graduation, weddings,etc. Try taking old home video and putting them on DVD's. Or take all those photos and put them on DVD and set them to inspirational music that fits the event. It will be a unique gift to treasure for all time.

The next gift is the gift of time. We are all so busy it is easy to lose track of spending time together. A good remedy for that is to make a coupon book with tangible items in it like back rubs or a coupon for a date or to help with the dishes or even a night out for your spouse without kids.

Arrange things like a movie, laser tag, bowling, skating, a concert, dinner, or a comedy club. Plan a year of dates with a spouse or one night out a month for children with a parent. Or volunteer together. Serve meals at the local shelter. Volunteer in the nursery at a church or a women's shelter. Rake leaves for an elderly neighbor as a family. Bake cookies for a new neighbor or a shut in. Work to earn money as a family and give it away as a donation in honor of someone special. You'll forge deeper relationships with your significant others while giving unique gifts that will teach lessons that last a lifetime.

Is there a long lost friend or relative that you could track down and somehow arrange to bring in as a surprise gift for someone. If you can't afford it see if you can arrange to split the cost with others. Someone at our church recently donated their frequent flyer miles to get someones spouse into the country.

On 7th Heaven they never had a lot of money so they drew names and they were not allowed to purchase their gifts they had to work to make the gift or barter or trade. They could also do acts of service for the individual or to honor them. Christmas was less commercialized and they seemed to really see the true meaning of Christmas wasn't about the gifts we give.

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