The Simple Joy of Giving: Finding Meaning in the Heart of the Season

Every year, as December unfolds and the world hums with tinsel and to-do lists, I find myself coming back to one memory from childhood — a story told in our classroom when I was maybe six or seven.

It was about a little girl who wanted to give her parents a Christmas gift but had no money and no possessions of her own. So she decorated an empty box with scraps of paper and ribbon and filled it — quite literally — with love. When she gave it to her parents, she told them it was “a box full of love.”

All these years later, that story has never left me. I think about it often, especially now as a mother myself — because it holds the very heart of what giving is supposed to be.

When Giving Was Simple

Somewhere along the way, giving became complicated.
We scroll, compare, rush, and spend — chasing the perfect gift, the perfect wrapping, the perfect moment.

But true giving was never meant to be complicated.
It was meant to be connection. A gesture that says: I see you. I know you. I thought of you.

The older I get, the more I realise that the joy of giving isn’t found in the price tag — it’s found in the thought. The small, intentional moments that make someone feel loved and remembered.

four boxes near lighted string lights — Photo by Element5 Digital on Pexels.com

A Family Tradition of Thoughtful Giving

In our house, we do a simple little Chris Kindle between the four of us — my husband, my two teenagers, and me. Every year, we draw names and each of us buys just one main gift.

It’s become one of my favourite parts of Christmas because it makes us slow down and think carefully about one person. There’s real joy in imagining what will make them smile, in wrapping it quietly, in watching them open something that came from genuine thought and care.

We also fill a small stocking for each other — a few meaningful little things, never more than €20 in total. Somehow, those stockings have become the most cherished gifts of all.

And as the years have gone by, I’ve encouraged my kids to make gifts too — for teachers, grandparents, and friends. Homemade biscuits, candles, ornaments, drawings — small acts of creativity that carry something store-bought gifts rarely can: the giver’s heart.

The Gifts That Don’t Cost a Thing

Some of the most precious gifts I’ve ever received didn’t come wrapped at all.

A neighbour dropping in a tin of mince pies.
A handwritten letter in the post.
A long walk and a real conversation.
A phone call at just the right moment.

These are the kinds of gifts that stay with you. They whisper love in quiet ways.

The best gifts don’t fill space — they fill hearts.

photo of girl sitting near christmas tree — Photo by Jonathan Borba on Pexels.com

Giving Beyond Things

Giving doesn’t have to mean buying. It can mean showing up, listening, offering time, or sharing what we have.
It can mean donating quietly, or doing something kind for someone who’ll never know it was you.

One of my favourite December rituals is to look for small ways to give that aren’t on any list — a random act of kindness, a little surprise for a neighbour, a coffee paid forward.

These tiny gestures have a way of rippling outwards. They remind us that giving — in its purest form — connects us to one another.

Simple Ways to Bring Back the Joy of Giving

If you’re craving a gentler approach this Christmas, here are a few simple, heartfelt ideas:

Write a handwritten note to someone you appreciate.
Gift something homemade — biscuits, jam, or a candle.
Share an experience — a walk, a cosy breakfast, or a film night.
Create a family Chris Kindle to simplify and focus your giving.
Leave a small surprise for a neighbour or friend.
Give your time — visit, help, listen, or simply be present.
Encourage children to make something — creativity teaches empathy.
Donate or volunteer if you can, but do it quietly, without expectation.
Wrap slowly and with care — let even the act of wrapping become a moment of love.
Remember that presence is the greatest gift of all.

The Ripple Effect

Giving — real, intentional giving — changes the atmosphere around us.
It softens us. It reminds us that love is an action, not a transaction.

When we give from a place of gratitude and connection, it ripples outward — through our homes, our families, our communities.
One thoughtful act can brighten someone’s entire season.

So this year, I’m taking my cue from that little girl and her box of love.
Less pressure, fewer lists, more heart.

Because the most meaningful gifts are the ones that say:
I thought of you.
You matter to me.
You are loved.

And really, what more could we ever want to give — or receive — than that?

Chat soon,

Ciara x