Thursday thoughts: Small gifts make a big difference By JILL JOHNSON Thursday, December 18, 2025 I love Christmas. I love to find gifts for others that I think they might like. I know everyone in my family likes to make a "list," but I like to get something that I might just come across that reminds me of them or that I think they would be surprised over. It's not always an easy task. This week I have experienced finding a small gift and also receiving a small gift. I was at the mall earlier this week. I found a sweet, soft sweater that I felt like one of my granddaughters would love. It reminded me of her because it had small flowers on it and looked so comfy. I texted my daughter and asked if she thought an XS would fit her. She hesitated and said probably a small. The sales lady at the store looked up their inventory and said they should have one small in the store. She offered to help me look. We both looked, and neither of us could find one. I hesitated and told her to let me think about whether or not I would buy the smaller size. I walked around and decided I would not purchase the smaller size, even though it was so cute and even on clearance, so it was a great price. I went by the cash register where the sales lady was ringing up another customer. I told her I decided not to purchase the sweater and thanked her for helping me. I got out to my car, cranked it, and backed out of the parking space. I felt such a strong sense of the Lord just gently nudging me to go back in and purchase the sweater. I parked my car and went back in. As soon as I saw the sales lady her face lit up and she told me how glad she was that I came back. It turns out the person the sales lady was checking out when I first left the store just happened to have a size small sweater. At the register, she changed her mind about purchasing it. I was able to purchase the sweater for my granddaughter. A small gift for her that God allowed me to find that I think she will love. It was a small gift from God that made a big difference to me. Another gift that I received this week was from my oldest granddaughter. Needless to say, teenagers don't always have grandparents high on their priority list to spend time with. They have so many other things pulling at their time, such as ballgames, friends, school, etc. One night this week, my granddaughter came home and was going to make her friends a sweet snack for Christmas. She was very talkative at dinner, and Wayne and I both enjoyed her company. After dinner, she started cooking. She asked if I had any clear bags that she could put the treats in to deliver to her friends. Amazingly, I had some left over from last year that I found. Another small gift from God. I was able to help her when she was ready to put everything in the bags. I had some Christmas ribbon that we tied on the bags to make them pretty. It was just so nice to spend time with her. It was probably no big deal to her, but for me it was. She made me feel valued, seen, and loved. It was a small gift of time together that I received that made a big difference to me. God knew I needed that gift. James 1:17 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." God is incredibly generous to us in everything, and we can trace every blessing and gift back to Him. My encouragement to you this week before Christmas is to be intentional in praying about the gifts you give and look for God in the gifts you receive. Maybe He will allow you to bless someone else with a gift - one that is exactly what they need. You might not know how much they might need the gift, but God does. I pray we can all be generous gift givers and thankful gift receivers as we remember to share the most precious gift of Jesus with others this Christmas season. Every gift, whether small or large, given in love, can make a difference! ___ Jill Johnson finds spiritual applications in her everyday experiences as a wife, mother, grandmother, and Georgian. Jill is retired from the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and is available to speak to your church's women's gatherings. Reach her at jjohnson@gabaptist.org. --- PULLQUOTES --- Quote: I pray we can all be generous gift givers and thankful gift receivers as we remember to share the most precious gift of Jesus with others this Christmas season. --- PHOTOS --- File: 20230105-130542-Jill Johnson thumbnail.jpg Caption: Jill Johnson