It’s almost time to make your Christmas lists (if you’re the kind of person who thinks ahead like that). As you put all the tangible items on your list, might I suggest adding two intangible items? To make these gifts work, you need to start working on them now.

(Because I’m a mom, I’m using that context. To make it applicable, you can replace “mom” with friend, employer, employee, son, daughter, grandparent, etc.)

Here are the gifts on my list: 

1. A content mom. God put you in your specific situation to be a blessing to those around you. Don’t make yourself feel less valuable by comparing yourself to them. And don’t make yourself feel better by judging them either. Don’t compare your life, home, children, finances, or schedule to theirs. Find your identity as a child of God. 
2. A sinful, forgiven, grace-covered mom. You probably spend an inordinate amount of time trying to be the perfect mom. You accommodate schedules, plan meals, sign forms, and try to have answers to life’s quandaries. None of that makes you a good mom; it just means you’re attentive to parenting details. You know what makes good moms? Jesus. Even if all the tasks you juggle were to drop, God would not stop loving you because his love covers over a multitude of sins. 

While we can all give good gifts this year, being content and grace-covered will probably bring the most joy.