By Vickie Denning, Communications

Okay, let’s be honest. Sharing the joy of Christmas can be … really tiring. We shop for the perfect gifts and rack up the miles on our odometers, the step count on our tracking devices, or the clicks on our web browsers — especially the clicks on our web browsers this year.

We search for thingamajigs, doodads, whatnots, gizmos, and whatchamacallits and, again — let’s be honest — our loved ones may already have too many thingamajigs, doodads, whatnots, gizmos, and whatchamacallits.

And please, they don’t want socks. Or ties. Or the newest, gotta-have-it small kitchen appliances or electronic devices that will improve their lives so much — if only they can figure out how to use them. And no more fruitcakes. I mean it. No more.

And lutefisk? It’s only for those who can trace their Lutheran heritage back for generations. Then they have to say they like it. And they will say they don’t mind the smell. Puh-leeze.

So I have a suggestion. Have you considered cows? Or chicks? Or piglets? Or goats? Or fruit trees or honeybees?

No, no you don’t have to start a farm. Farms are hard! I lived on one as a child. I can tell you about it. Wait, I digress.

Back to the cows, chicks, piglets, goats, fruit trees, and honey bees.

The ELCA headquarters in Chicago is being overrun with livestock. No that’s not true. They don’t have livestock. But, they do have really great ideas for Christmas presents.

You can honor a loved one with a meaningful gift that will help fight hunger and transform lives. Yep, take that malls and Amazon — meaningful gifts are through the ELCA.

And, BTW, there’s more to choose from than just the farm thingamabobs. With only $10, you can provide a blanket to the survivor of a disaster or emergency or you can provide a mosquito net to those in places around the world where malaria is a real and significant threat. Or, you can provide a clinic visit for a child who is sick or needs a checkup.

And back to the cows, chicks, piglets, goats, fruit trees and honey bees. These thingies help families provide food, start small businesses, and enrich the soils. These gifts change lives for the better.

I like this, so sign me up. Wait a minute, do I have to gift wrap any of these?

Come on, we’re at the end here, so let’s get serious. Just click here and choose your gift. Your gift will support the ministries of the ELCA in nearly 80 countries around the world.

Yep, we’ve got gifts. Unexpected gifts. Good gifts.