Meaningful Gifts

Last January, a group of eight close friends met for breakfast. As we shared thoughts on the holiday season just past, there was an expression of frustration about the Christmas gift-giving process between friends and acquaintances. Although we each wanted to give meaningful gifts to friends and loved ones, the cumulative effect of doing so too often meant spending a good deal more than our budgets allowed.

As the conversation continued, we also shared concerns about the problems facing those less fortunate than ourselves. When we compared our more personal frustrations about gift giving with the tremendous needs of the less fortunate, however, those frustrations no longer seemed as pressing.

During the ongoing discussion, a solution to both problems was suggested: In the spirit of giving to teach other and, at the same time, giving to those people who might have a greater immediate need than any one of us, we decided to start a Christmas fund to help others. A bank account was opened and, over the next 12 months, regular deposits of an agreed-on amount were made by each of us.

This past month, we met and decided on how to use the Christmas fund, ultimately splitting the money between two worthy charities. It wasn’t a large amount, but it was more than might otherwise have been given. Needless to say, the gift of giving felt good.

The impact this venture had on every one of us prompted a decision to write and share the experience in hope that it might inspire others. As an aside, we used the “business” of giving as an excuse to get together almost monthly for simple, intimate meetings over breakfast or lunch. The friendship, love and camaraderie of those meetings, as well as the feeling of having made some difference in the world, was probably the best Christmas present we could have given each other.

The author asked The Times to withhold his name.