“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” — James 1:17 (NIV)

Tell the truth, now: did your grandma give you underwear every year for Christmas?

My Grandma CvT did. Opening her gift in front of all the family was an exercise in embarrassment. The only thing that comforted me was that all the cousins got the same thing. No one dared make fun of anyone else!

It didn’t help that my other grandma, Grandma McK, went shopping in other departments. She gave gifts like a pretty sweater with a matching skirt, or a book I’d been wanting to read.

Giving gifts is an art, and not all of us are artists. Throw in an in-law relationship or two, and things get really interesting, really fast. What do you get for the grandchild who has everything? What can you give a picky daughter-in-law?

What can you give a persnickety mother-in-law?

My own mom used to remind me that underwear is always useful. (Her mother was the underwear-giver.) Sometimes she sniffed that the pretty sweater was “a muddy color.” (That sweater came from her mother-in-law.)

Now I keep track of the wants, preferences, and dreams of three daughter-in-laws, three sons-in-law, one fiancee, one girlfriend, and ten grandchildren — not to mention the original husband and eight children. It’s unrealistic to think I won’t miss the mark with some of those gifts.

What a relief to realize I don’t have to get the “perfect gift” for each one — God has already covered that gift with Jesus. I just have to pay attention, put their wishes before my own, and give with a generous heart.

And really, that’s all you have to do, too.

Sometimes, even underwear can be the right gift.

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Holly not only chooses the gifts — she wraps them herself! And that explains why no one eats at the dining room table during December; it’s covered with tape, scissors, ribbons, and wrapping paper. You can read more about her holiday adventures at http://grandma-holly-on-board.blogspot.com.

Photo: my own