2018 Home for the Holidays

2018 Home for the Holidays LINCOLN DAILY NEWS November 21, 2018 Page 19 How to give delightful gifts By Lisa Ramlow W hat is the best gift you have ever received? A new bike, tickets to a concert, a diamond ring, a pearl necklace, a knitted scarf, a crocheted blanket, golf clubs, or your favorite homemade dinner? Was it big? Expensive? We are all familiar with the quote “It is not the gift, but the thought that counts (Henry Van Dyke).” Is it really the thought that counts? Or, is it the size of the gift that matters? Or, is it the expense of the gift that is important? Some believe that a gift better be one or the other. The problem with gift giving is the expectation, big or expensive, associated with the gift. As the holiday season draws near, let’s take a moment to consider why we give gifts in the first place. On one level, we give gifts because it is customary. Gift giving is included in every culture on earth. Underlying the custom, we give gifts to people to express how valuable they are in our lives. A common misconception is that the bigger or more expensive the gift, the more valuable the person. Continued u