December is just around the corner and in most minds one particular day this month stands out - Christmas!
For most of us really, it is that day we are treated to all ‘tribes’ of food. Those sumptuous meals that compel us to rest our hands on our full tummies in utter glee.

The favourite however is once again spending precious time with our loved ones: Aunts and uncles, so-and-so who lives abroad, siblings who work in another part of the country, cousins, nieces, nephews, spouses, friends, the list goes on and on.
Christmas is a time to share with family, friends and for some people, even the needy.
What better way to make our mark than give our loved ones something that communicates how much they mean to us, something that makes them stop and remember us -- a gift!
Some of the most precious memories held are made during this period.
And they don’t have necessarily to be those in close relationship with us. Some people do it as a way of fulfilling their religious duty.
A close friend, Peter, makes it a point always to have something for the needy. He packs in each polythene bag (kaveera) half a kilo of meat, onions, tomatoes, rice and a loaf of bread: And then by using a compiled list, drops in door to door with his Christmas gifts.
For Peter, seeing the faces of the recipients gives him the full meaning of Christmas.
The tradition of giving gifts at Christmas, now widely practised, originates from the three wise men’s gesture in bringing baby Jesus gifts. Matthew 2:11 says: “Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”
The gifts from the magi communicated their honour for a glorious king. They had followed his star all the way to Bethlehem.

Choosing a gift
When it comes to choosing a Christmas gift, the price should never be the criteria. As long as your gift communicates sentiments that you care about this person and that you took your time to show it, you are on the right track. So money should never be a drawback.
You don’t even have to spend. You can make one yourself, say a card, a sweater, a scrap-book, and so on. However you should be sure of your skills. 
And the more you know about  the person to whom you are presenting the gift, the easier it will be. Or you could ask somebody who knows them well. You will also admit that there are gifts that we tend to hold closer to the heart than others. And that is the kind of impression we want to leave on our loved one.
Lastly, do not expect always to get something in return. There is as much delight in giving as there is in receiving.          Merry Christmas!