(That title, am I right?)
I’ve been getting 10-15 phone calls a day asking about Christmas gift ideas so I’ve finally put together a list of fail-proof ideas for all the people on your list.
I’m just kidding about the phone calls. People know not to call me. If you called me, I would send it to voicemail, let the voicemail sit for a few days, and then delete it without listening to it.
Please never call me. Thanks.
But Christmas gift book ideas! People really do ask about that, just not via the dreadful telephone. And here’s what I’m telling the people:
For the creative doodler or a teenager girl: 30 Days of Peace or 30 Days of Joy
That designation might be misleading since I have both of these in my stack to complete in 2018, and I am neither of those title. Both of these one-month creative journals are full of scriptures to encourage, space to draw or doodle, and writing prompts to help cultivate a heart of peace or one full of joy. So really, these journals would work for anyone. They’re not overwhelming or time-consuming, but small bites to help you breath in some scripture and then live in the truth they’re sharing. If someone you know could use a new way to read scripture or just likes to be creative in their quiet time, these would be good gifts.
For small kids: the My Little Cities series by Jennifer Adams
These amazing board books introduce little kids to different cities around the world (Paris, London, San Francisco, and New York). The illustrations by Greg Pizzoli are beautiful and the simple rhyming phrases are great for those little brains acquiring new words on a daily basis. We have some friends who’ve spent the last ten years traveling the world and just had their first baby (Hi, Rhett!). We’re going to meet the little guy today and these books are perfect gift for him. (If you’re getting the books for toddlers, they have a super cute matching game to go with the series as well.)
For the goal-setter: The Daily Bible
I’ve shared this multiple times this year, but I’m nearing the end and still loving it. The Daily Bible is a chronological reading of the Bible to be completed in one year. Besides reading the Bible in the order it actually happened (which is opening my eyes in a whole new way), it also has commentary and insights that make it easier to understand, help connect dots, and pose thoughtful questions. I can’t tell you enough how highly I recommend this Bible.
For the self-help guru: The Road Back to You
If you’ve been paying attention the past month or two, I’ve become obsessed with the Enneagram. The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile has given me a life-changing shift in my thinking. I see weaknesses and strengths better and it’s making me more compassionate and kind to others and myself. It’s given me renewed energy for healthy relationships and helping me to relate better to people. This book would be an amazing introduction to anyone who likes to learn about personality types. I love that this book acknowledges we were all made in His image and getting back to a healthy spot that glorifies God and gives us our best selves is a noble journey.
For the hurried soul: The Daily Question
This would make a great stocking stuffer or gift exchange addition. The Daily Question is a five-year spiritual journal. It would take two to three minutes a day to fill out, and be such a neat way to look back at your personal growth and progress. Each day has a prompt (like when did you have to be honest even though it wasn’t easy?, who brought you joy today? and in what circumstances are you able to put your gifts to best use?) and a year for you to fill in. You answer in a few lines and then don’t come back to that prompt again for a year–I’m starting this in January and can’t wait to see how my answers change over the next few years.
For the conscious food-lover: Food Rules
Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual by Michael Pollan and illustrated by Maira Kalman is beautiful to look at and full of simple, yet practical ways to think about food. If you’ve got someone on your Christmas list who loves talking food, is interested in the clean food movement, or just loves to collect books on food (*ahem* me), this would be a welcome gift.
For the social justice advocate: The Hate You Give
Don’t skip this recommendation when I mention it’s a young adult novel. YA novels get such a bad rap, but The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas on the shooting of an unarmed black teenager is important and compelling. Get it for your favorite teenager and then ask to borrow it when they’re done.
For the anxious worrier: This I Know
This one is a Bible study that comes out in January so pre-order it now and have it arrive to your favorite worrier in January when they’re too cold to leave the house. Or buy it for your girlfriends and start 2018 with a Bible study. This I Know: Trusting Your Unknown Future to a Known God by Laura Dingman is for anyone who has felt lost, out-of-control, or consumed by doubt and worry. I had the honor of reading this study in the fall (and writing an endorsement so look for my compelling short paragraph blurb in the front *pats self on back*), and it was exactly the reminder I needed when things felt so hopeless. Reading God is trustworthy versus living like God is trustworthy are two very different things and This I Know helps us figure out how to the second one well.
For your mom: 31 Proverbs to Light Your Path
This is legit for my mom, so Ruth go somewhere else for this paragraph. 31 Proverbs to Light Your Path by Liz Curtis Higgs would make a great addition to a bedside book stack (everyone has one of those, right??). I love reading Proverbs because each nugget seems so wise and timely that I end up highlighting the whole book. It’s probably a little much. The scriptures in this book were chosen by hundreds of women as their favorites and Curtis Higgs helps the reader examine them with humor and encouragement. Reading one every day or just sporadically will still fill your favorite mom-reader with truth and light. (Is it weird to say this is a mom book? I’m allowed to say that because I’m a mom. I am tempted to keep it for myself.)
Okay, I’m out of clever titles, but here are the books my kids are getting under the tree this year: The Action Bible (it’s the Bible as a graphic novel!), the newest Dairy of a Wimpy Kid book for Ellie (The Getaway), and a box set of Owl Diaries for Harper.
What books are you getting your favorite people this year? Share them below–you know we all need shopping help.
This is great! I think my boys will enjoy The Action Bible so I’ve ordered it! I’ve also just start The Road Back to You! There’s a study guide that a worker from Books-A-Million accidently ordered for me when I went for the book.( Why didn’t I trust Amazon to begin with?) I’ve taken it as a sign that I should just do the study guide!
I got the study guide for a group of friends, and we’re going to work through it in January. I can’t wait! Let me know what you think!