Before You Wrap Another Gift…Consider These Instead
- Dr. Jackie Minor
- 7 days ago
- 6 min read
December has a way of sweeping in with all its sparkle, chaos, and endless to-do lists. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably already felt the shift—stores overflowing with decorations, commercials reminding us that we’re running out of time, and inboxes full of “perfect gift ideas.” We are absolutely inundated with gift-giving messages this time of year. If we’re honest, some of the presents we give will thrill their recipients, but others may not. Some of our students will be over-the-moon about what they unwrap while others will quietly wish for the one thing they didn’t get. The reality is many of the gifts we will give to others will eventually find their way to a closet, a donation bin, or even the dumpster, and that’s okay.
As I pondered gift-giving and the endless cycle of material things, a thought came to mind. What if, as Christian educators, we shifted our mindset just a little this year? What if we intentionally chose to focus on giving gifts that are non-material, indestructible, and eternal? I’m not advocating that we no longer exchange presents. Wrap those boxes, tape bows on top, and slip your surprises under trees. However, in the midst of the gift-giving season, consider committing this year to giving the gift that never breaks, never expires, never gets returned, and never goes out of style—the fruit of the Spirit.
The Gifts That Never Fade
Galatians 5 reminds us that when the Holy Spirit is at work in us, something beautiful blossoms. These gifts—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—are not seasonal. They don’t depend on our mood or our circumstances. Unlike the gifts we wrap, these gifts actually grow as we give them.
So this Christmas, as we serve in classrooms, offices, cafeterias, libraries, buses, gyms, and hallways, what if we gave Spirit-filled gifts that transform atmospheres, relationships, and hearts? Let’s imagine for a moment what this could look like.
Love – The Gift Your Family Needs Most
I’m not talking about the world’s definition of love. That love is emotion-driven, performance-based, and easily shaken. Biblical love—agape love—is unconditional, selfless, and chosen. What if the greatest gift you gave your family this year wasn’t hidden under wrapping paper at all? What if it was…
choosing patience during the stressful moments.
listening without interrupting.
offering forgiveness quickly.
showing appreciation even when emotions run thin.
Imagine your home warmed by love that reflects the heart of Christ—steady, unchanging, and sacrificial. That’s a gift no one ever forgets.
Joy – A Gift for Your Team
What if the best gift you brought to your coworkers this December was joy? Biblical joy is not forced cheerfulness or pretending everything is perfect. Rather, Biblical joy is rooted in the fact that God is in control of all things and that your identity is secure in Him.
Walking into school each morning with a joyful heart changes the way you greet people, the way you respond to challenges, and the way others feel when they’re around you. Joy is contagious. Your teammates may not remember your Christmas cookies, but they will remember the joy of the Lord shining through you.
Peace – A Gift for Your School Community
Many schools feel anything but peaceful in December. Schedules tighten, behaviors escalate, pressures mount, and everyone is just a little more tired than usual. What if the greatest gift you offered your school community was peace? Peace looks like…
refusing to participate in unnecessary drama.
choosing calm words over reactive ones.
stepping away from gossip.
offering grace in tense moments.
being a steady, non-anxious presence.
When the Holy Spirit cultivates peace within us, it spills out around us. Students feel it. Coworkers notice it. God is honored by it.
Patience – A Gift for That One Student
Every educator has at least one student who requires a little extra…everything. What if the greatest gift you gave that child was your patience? Picture these scenarios.
A calm voice when he explodes
A clarifying question instead of a sharp criticism
A solution-oriented response instead of sarcasm
A willingness to believe the best instead of assuming the worst
Sometimes the most Christlike gift we give is simply the space for a child to struggle, fail, learn, and grow—without fear of rejection. Patience plants seeds that may not bloom for years, but they always matter.
Kindness – A Gift for Someone on the Outside
Every school has someone who feels like an outsider. It may be a parent who doesn’t quite fit the culture, a colleague who keeps to herself, a custodian who feels unnoticed, or a student who rarely blends in. What if the greatest gift you gave this year was an intentional act of kindness toward the one standing on the fringes?
A kind word
A warm greeting
A note of appreciation
An invitation to lunch
A moment of recognition
Kindness opens doors that achievement and charisma never can. Sometimes it softens hardened hearts, and sometimes it simply reminds someone they are seen by God.
Goodness – The Gift of Integrity
Goodness is love in action. It's choosing what is right, even if no one notices. Maybe this year goodness looks like…
refusing to cut corners.
treating every student fairly.
honoring your commitments.
doing the right thing even when it costs you something small.
Goodness blesses others, but it also shapes us into the image of Christ.
Faithfulness – A Gift for Your Administrator
Faithfulness is steady and dependable. It’s not flashy, but it is deeply valuable. What if the greatest gift you gave your administrator, your team leader, or your supervisor was simple, quiet faithfulness?
Completing what you’ve been assigned—on time
Being reliable without complaining
Following through even when no one is watching
Being consistent in your work and your attitude
In a field where so much feels unpredictable, faithfulness shines like a light.
Gentleness – A Gift for Someone Who Needs It
Think for a moment about someone at your school who needs to be handled gently this season. Maybe this person is…
a colleague grieving a loss.
a student battling anxiety.
a parent dealing with overwhelming circumstances.
a supervisor carrying pressures you can’t see.
Gentleness is strength under control. It doesn’t minimize truth; it simply delivers truth with compassion. A gentle presence can heal, encourage, and restore in ways that harshness never will.
Self-Control – A Gift for Yourself
Of all the gifts we give this season, this one can be the hardest. Self-control may mean…
resisting the urge to overspend.
not overeating or overindulging.
stepping back from jealousy when someone else seems to have more.
refusing to become indifferent to the needs around you.
setting healthy boundaries for your time and heart.
What if the greatest gift you gave yourself this Christmas was Spirit-led discipline? Self-control protects your peace, health, witness, and walk with the Lord. Self-control frees you to enjoy the season with gratitude instead of regret.
Why These Gifts Matter Most
We’re all going to exchange presents this Christmas. We’ll give, receive, laugh, surprise, and celebrate. All of that is good and beautiful, but there is a better part. At the heart of Christmas is Jesus. He came as a baby, lived a sinless life, and gave us the greatest gift ever offered—His redeeming life on the cross. Because of His sacrifice and resurrection, we now receive the Holy Spirit who produces these gifts within us (Luke 2:10-11; John 14:16-17; John 15:4-5; I John 4:9-10).
This Christmas, we can honor Christ in the most meaningful way by living out the fruit of the Spirit. Let’s vow to show love, joy, peace, and kindness at home, at school, in meetings, and in the unseen moments that matter most to God. May we celebrate Christmas not just with wrapped presents but with hearts ready to put the fruit of the Spirit on display. This year the most unforgettable gifts we can give are ones that cannot break, fade, or be thrown away. These gifts reveal Jesus to a world that desperately needs Him.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25
Want to learn more about putting the fruit of the Spirit on Display? Check out our new book: https://www.victoriouseducator.com/taking-jesus-to-school
Learn more about Victorious Educator Ministries: www.victoriouseducator.com
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