The holiday season is a time for celebrating, gathering together with family and friends and gift giving. Now that the leaves are falling and the holiday season is rapidly approaching, I am again faced with the joy and anticipation of gift giving, and you are probably feeling the same.

Once, the giving of gifts solely represented the expression of love, friendship, and regard for the receiver. Only in the past century has this giving of gifts turned into a major commercial venture, the keystone of the consumer economy. Already media advertisements attempt to persuade us to purchase beautiful and wonderful baubles and things and whatnots, much of which will only end up in storage in the basement. Consequently, because we tend to get caught in the hustle and bustle of shopping and sales and blue light specials, we forget about the true reason for the season which is sharing the love of JESUS CHRIST!

Here are some general guidelines to follow when giving gifts:

LIMIT THE NUMBER OF GIFTS TO ANY ONE PERSON

This can be an especially challenging temptation when it comes to giving to children. Give one or two meaningful gifts rather than many, especially if you are on a tight budget.

MAKE EACH GIFT UNIQUE and MEMORABLE

This requires a little more thought on your part than just running to the store and buying the first thing that catches your eye. That does'nt mean that it need be an expensive gift, but something of quality.When considering what gift to get for someone who has everything, think about unique gift ideas throughout the year and jot them down in a notebook or journal.

FIND OUT WHAT THE RECIPIENT REALLY LIKES

Often we think of giving gifts in terms of the gifts we would like to receive. The idea is to think in terms of unique gifts that the recipient would be thrilled to receive.

BUY THE RECIPIENT WHAT THEY WANT

When giving a gift to a loved one, buy them something from their wish list. You definitely need to keep your eyes opened and your ears tuned in. Listen carefully when the person makes references to unique gifts that would love to own.My husband had been taking about owning a brand new red Corvette. So last Christmas, I went to Wal-Mart and purchased one for him. He really loves it and has it proudly displayed on a shelf. But seriously, be sensitive to the person's wants and desires.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING

The most important thing is giving the gift from your heart. Trust your judgement and don't worry about whether or not the gift is perfect. If you think the person will like it, chances are they will. You will find that the greatest joy of gift-giving comes in the happiness your thoughtfulness brings to others, so relax, have fun, and enjoy the holidays!