The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Give The Gift Of Time:

by Dessa Rodeffer, Publisher/Owner

11 December 2002

Why is time the hardest thing for us to give.

My married daughter told me more than once this fall, that she didn't want any presents for Christmas. All she wants is someone to give her a day or two to help finish some odds and ends around her home.

It seems that I have heard teenagers and young children as well as spouses and adults say the same thing.

Children want to play games with their parents. Or they want to do something with their parent when they come home.

Grandparents long to spend time with their children and their grandchildren.

The problem is, no one has figured out how to wrap it and how to actually give a gift of ourselves.

I think it would be really clever if a father or a mother, wife or husband would actually wrap themselves up and stick a bow on their head and say - "You got me for a day," ....that's your gift." I wonder what the reaction would be.

Being alone at Christmas must be one of the hardest things, especially after losing a loved one.

In the first book of the Bible, the creation story is told in Genesis. It says in the King James version: Chapter II, verse 18: "And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him."

that God created Adam, and that it was not good for him to be alone, so he created another to share his life with.

I have read commentaries that pointed out that it wasn't Adam who proclaimed that he needed help or someone to share a life with. It was the wise God who knew what Adam needed.... a companion, help-mate and friend.

A think this is why the best gift we give another at Christmas - and all year through - is the gift of time.

You really don't have to wrap up yourself. A gift certificate would do. It might be the least expensive and most effective gift you can give this Christmas.

The University of Illinois Extension has some very good thoughts on this subject:

"Cammy Seguin, family life educator with University of Illinois extension suggests that you give your time in a variety of ways. Consider some of these suggestions:

• Give an hour or more each week to do an activity of a child's choice.
• Visit older friends or relatives just to talk and help with household repairs or chores.
• Schedule a time each day to read to young children.
• Call or visit a shut-in throughout the year.
• Block out dates on your calendar to spend with important people in your life.

There are endless possibilities.

If distance is a problem, give the gift of phone calls, e-mails, homemade videos, snapshots, or letters on a regular basis.

Volunteer your time to an organization, nursing home, or hospital. This can be given as a gift to honor or thank others for their time.

The gift of your time is guaranteed to be received with pleasure. There will never be a question about whether the gift is appropriate, if it fits, or if it will need to be returned to the store. Best of all, the giver may even feel as much joy as the receiver.

"It is easy to get distracted from something so simple as just being together with family and loved ones. However, the time you spend with them will be remembered long after a purchased gift is forgotten."

Consider the benefits as you think about the cost of your valuable time spent with others.

Happy planning.