Giving Gifts with the Recipient in Mind

Jena Muhr offers seven questions to help you pick out the perfect gift for just about any occasion.

I have about eight whisks sitting in my cooking utensil jar on my counter. Personally, I am not the biggest fan of whisks. I find that they are difficult to clean and hard to store without messing them up—and with eight in the jar, a bit redundant. But I love them all. And will not be thinning my collection anytime soon.   

This is because they have all been given to me as gifts. I haven’t bought one of them. As a lover of food, I have learned how to cook, bake, and feed my family to the best of my abilities. All of these gifts have been given to me because the gifter knows me and how I spend my time. Rather than giving a generic gift, they thought about who I am, what I like to do, and how their gift can serve me in my life. That thought means more than any gift I can receive.  

Gift giving for adults can be hard. (Kids are much easier by comparison.) And I feel that it can be easy to fall into the ease of giving gifts of Amazon and Home Depot gift cards. Giving a gift is always thoughtful and appreciated but sometimes you want to give something more personal or specific to the receiver. Stopping and thinking about what the receiver likes, what will serve them and make them know how loved they are takes time, understanding, and reflection. But it is so worth, it in my opinion.  

I know that the Christmas and the traditional gift giving season is behind us, but Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are approaching. For me, the birthday season is just around the corner (my family has 6 in July alone!) and I already need to start thinking about the gifts to give to all of our family members and friends as their celebrations come up.  

In thinking about this, here are seven questions that I am trying to ask myself as I pick out gifts:  

 
How does the receiver like to spend their free time?

If it is a hobby, maybe I'll choose a gift that is related to that hobby, but not directly. For example, if she likes reading, maybe a pair of cozy socks or a fun bookmark to go with your favorite book. If she likes to run, maybe a new running hat or a pair of running socks. 

Is there a special memory that you two share?

Maybe something from growing up brings a smile to your face and this can be brought back with the gift of a food or toy that will be a great blast from the past.  

If the receiver doesn’t like to cook, do they enjoy eating out?

Give a gift card to one of their favorite local haunts. Or if you like to cook then maybe a freezer meal or a loaf of homemade bread for them (I have given bread as a gift on a few occasions and it has been a big hit so far). 

Is the new baby the latest in a long line of kids?

Maybe a gift for the new mama or something to keep the older siblings entertained for a while would be a good idea. A gift card to a shop for new clothes for mama or a maternity store for new nursing bras are always appreciated. A breakfast that they can enjoy would be welcome as well I’m sure!

Is the recipient someone you're just getting to know?

Giving a gift that means something significant to you can open a conversation, and you can explain why the gift is meaningful.  

Is the gift for one of your parents?

At least for my parents, a framed photo of their grandchildren is always a big winner (especially when it’s a picture they haven’t seen before). And activities planned together can be a great present. It does take coordination, but I enjoy taking my parents out for a “date” with their favorite first born.  

Is the gift for a priest or someone in a religious order?

They may have all the prayer books or holy writings that they need at the moment. But looking deeper into their personal interests can go a long way. Also, I’m sure that gift cards to local businesses are also very much appreciated. 

Giving gifts can be hard. But even if your gift misses the mark because you gave it extra thought and consideration it can have the impact that you’re looking for. The receiver knows that you care about them and thinks of them on more than a surface level.  

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Copyright 2024 Jena Muhr
Images: Canva