Easy Encouraging Gift Idea

If you are a regular church goer, you've probably heard of the Five Love Languages. If you haven't, get a quick read here (http://www.5lovelanguages.com). Most people that I've talked to about these love languages, spend most of the time talking about how they prefer to receive love. That is only a small portion of the purpose. Most of the purpose is to know how to give love. So, I like to try to focus on creatively giving love.
I have a theory: no matter how you tend to receive love, everyone needs it! Even if it comes in a different language, we were made to love and be loved. But I think, personally-maybe it's because words actually are my love language- that sometimes people from each of the languages sometimes just needs to hear it plain as day with the language they actually speak. That's why Hallmark can stay in business; every holiday has a card! So, no matter how I decide to give a gift, I just can't help but to say it with words. :)

My pastor has been more of a father figure in my life, and since Christmas, Pastor's Appreciation, and his birthday are all so close together, we keep him on our Christmas shopping list. But we definitely had to include our words.

So I bought a 12 pack of his favorite soda, got some duct tape and a few permanent markers from my craft stuff, and just put it all together.
Six of them were just little honest encouragements from me and six were from my husband. Just for kicks, I did them in different marker colors. and somewhere on each can, I wrote "Happy Pastor's Appreciation, Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas", the note, and who it was from. Then I repackaged it back in its box and wrapped it.
It was probably our cheapest gift to give, but fun to make and pretty encouraging. I've been getting texts about once a week with how encouraging they are.

 

I've actually done this before, a few years ago, with the same gift, except I used white labels and neater handwriting. It looked much cleaner, but I don't think that's the part that mattered. :)

 

If I wanted to, I could do water bottles, juices, Arizona's, or maybe even a snack food, like Pop Tarts.

 

If any of you try this, I'd love to hear about it. :) Regardless, I'm having fun learning to SEEK, FOCUS, CREATE. :) Until next time, *tips hat*.