Gifts are a part of our lives. You must have given or received a gift at some point in your life. Some you appreciate a lot and others, not as much. I enjoy giving and receiving gifts. Receiving more than giving, but I have learnt that the more one gives, the more one gets. On that note, I decided to compile a list of non-physical gifts to save some of you the trip to the store, queuing, and gift wrapping.

Freely you have received; freely give.

Matthew 10:8b (NIV)

E-cards

You can design your own cards or posters and email/text it to people in place of physical cards. I like this because it is customizable so you can use a different template for different individuals and you can write your own messages. There are many websites or apps that you can use for this. I use Canva for such projects.

Digital gift cards

These are great alternatives to physical cards. Many organisations now provide digital versions of their store gift cards. This is also a safe play as the person can choose exactly what they want from there.

Donation

You can make a donation to a charitable organisation on their behalf especially if you know they have one dear to their heart. This is good for people that say they have everything they need at the moment.

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)

Personalized gifts

If you are artistically inclined and know your recipient well, you can write them a poem, or a story, or create digital art, make DIY coupons, or create a special recipe for them. Otherwise, you can commission someone to do it for you. I recently found out about custom songs which make for pretty cool surprise gifts.

Experiences

You can give the gift of an experience like an online course, spa day, weekend away, photo shoot, event ticket. The list is endless. It could be personal or group.

Time

Yes, you can give the gift of your time. Sometimes what people really want from you is just to spend time with you. You can take the day off and just do what that person enjoys. Let the person plan out the whole day. This is great for children, partners, and anyone really.

Final thoughts

On a final note, I believe the greatest gift of all is the gift of eternal life given by God through Jesus Christ. It cannot be quantified, but it is so precious and far outweighs any other gift I have or could ever receive.

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Which other non-physical gifts have you given or know about? What is the most memorable gift you have received?

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