I'll start off by saying that this book is mostly North American, evangelical Christian, family-devotions, Operation Christmas Child*, birthday party for Jesus. If that isn't your style, or you already think you've got Christmas celebrations packed pretty full, you may not get a lot out of this. I guess the family who had it inscribed to them in 2004 and put it in the thrift shop a couple of years later felt that way. Maybe they were just trimming down.
But look a little deeper, and there are plenty of reminders of ways to share gifts such as Chuck Swindoll mentioned in today's broadcast: love, time, hospitality, compassion; to find more ways to connect with people instead of computers. Suggestions such as "Have a Christmas worship center for the holidays" may sound old if you've been doing that for years; but for other people, that one suggestion may be enough to move celebrations in a new direction. Ideas for "inexpensive gift giving" aren't super-radical (make a scrapbook, copy your favourite recipes, give something of your own) but again--what you might think is "yeah, of course, that's what we already do!" might sound amazing to someone whose Christmases have generally meant stretching credit cards.
Besides, the photography is nice.
For that reason, I think this book (available for about US$10 on Amazon) would make a wonderful gift as part of a Christmas basket, maybe with hot chocolate mix and some Christ-centered tree ornaments (maybe homemade).
"'Ready for Christmas, what do you mean?'
She woke with a start and a cry of despair.
'There's so little time, and I've still to prepare.
Oh, Father, forgive me, I see what you mean!
Yes, more than the giving of gifts and a tree,
It's the heart swept clean that He wanted to see,
A heart that is free from bitterness and sin.
So be ready for Christmas--and ready for Him.'"
--Author unknown, quoted in Celebrating a Christ-Centered Christmas
*By the way, did you know that you can now pack a "virtual" shoebox online?
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