Our mailbox is beginning to weigh heavier after each day’s delivery. That’s because the gift-giving catalogs are arriving, prepping us for Christmas shopping. Thanksgiving, soon to arrive, will skateboard rapidly through a season of gratitude and on into the Christmas festivities.

My anticipation of the fast-approaching season has already rallied my thinking genes for ideas about the perfect gifts. The intentions are always the same — find that gift that will bring the greatest joy and pleasure to the recipient.

Wouldn’t Contentment be a great present to open? For those adults who think a little more of “this” and a bigger place to put “that,” contentment would be perfect. However, with the number of catalogs and store window enticements, contentment is a hard-to-find item.

If I could box Hunger-for-More-Of-Jesus, there would be a box for every family member and friend. I would even like to pass that present out to all who pass by the Salvation Army bell ringers. I’m positive that a hunger for a deeper, personal relationship with the Savior would be the gift that “keeps on giving.” What or who wouldn’t be affected by that special gift?

Trust would be another gift I would like to wrap with ribbons and bows. Our chaotic world inflicting a different kind of terrorism and fear in almost every news story is distressing and intimidating. From a mother’s womb to the offices of Washington politicians, there seems to be no safe place.

In my Trust package, I would include a daily reminder verse from Isaiah. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” That would be a bonus gift to receive because Peace would come with it.

Joy would be another incalculable gift to give. However, it would divulge its contents before being opened because its sunny glow and sounds of laughter and music would slip out of the wrappings.

Once the recipients opened the Joy box, they would find a single Bible verse pointing to that source of joy. “In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forever more.

These items would top my list of gifts, and I’m positive none would ever be returned or exchanged. The key to procuring these items is prayer, not catalogs or shopping. I’m certain that if God could deliver the ultimate Gift to a manger in a stable, He can pack untold wonders in a Christmas package.

Letters to Camille Anding can be sent to P.O. Box 551, Brookhaven, MS, 39602, or e-mailed to camille@datalane.net.