“Whatever good things we build end up building us.”
Practice
Keep it simple. The aim is love, not grandiosity or perfection. Select an idea that is realistic—one that you can enjoy and accomplish with confidence. (Some simple gifts we’ve made: homemade ice cream, candle holders, dish scrubbies, picture frames, simmering bags.)
Make time. Set aside blocks on your calendar to avoid feeling rushed or resentful.
Move slow. Settle into and enjoy the process; consider offering quiet prayers for the recipients as you go.
With the holidays upon us, the practice of building vs. buying offers a gentle invitation to move more slowly and intentionally, affording us the ability to give thoughtfully and generously to our neighbors and friends.
In the early years of our marriage, my husband and I set out to build or make many of the gifts we gave, mostly due to budgetary restrictions. However, in the process, we discovered we deeply appreciated the way this practice shaped our season as a whole. We realized we loved giving gifts that felt more meaningful because of the time and intention we poured into them. We found this to be a creative outlet for hospitality—freely offering what we have to make others feel valued and cared for.
As followers of Jesus, we are image-bearers of a God who is endlessly creative, and in the process of building and making, we get to experience the joy of co-creating with Him, adding our own contributions of order and beauty to the world. This can take shape through many different mediums: woodworking, gardening, preserving, fiber arts, painting, baking, writing, and countless others. Every unique gift created and offered is also an echo of the creativity and generosity of our Maker.
Building vs. buying also allows us an opportunity to practice generosity with both our time and resources. Planning, designing, and creating a gift requires that we carve out the minutes or hours necessary for preparation and execution, and though it is not visible, this offering of time is such a significant part of the gift itself. In a season when time is such a precious commodity, what if we were more lavish in how we give it away? Instead of rushing in and out of stores to get all the deals and bargains, or clicking “add to cart” online, what if we moved a little slower, making gifts that tell a story of generosity and care, even in the preparation?
Building and making is a way that we can move counter-culturally against the tide of consumerism and over-spending, offering a pace that is gentler on our souls and more intentional toward loving our neighbors. It provides one of the most accessible avenues for an introduction or reconnection to the people who are right around us. Building and making is an invitation to practice a humble, generous, and intentional holiday season.
Robin Coleman lives in Kennebunk, Maine, with her husband and their two sons. She is a singer/songwriter and a gatherer of people, a lover of mountain streams, good books, and ice cream.
