The 12 Gifts At Work

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"Let all that you do be done in love."
- 1 Corinthians 16: 13-14

Ways The Twelve Gifts Books Are Being Used

"I have used The Twelve Gifts of Birth in many ways with 5^th grade and middle school students. One activity that could be used with any one of the gifts is ‘Share One, Get One.’ Each student makes a 9-part grid on a piece of paper (a closed tic-tac-toe board. Each student lists three things related to the gift being discussed, filling three boxes. Students then move about the room, sharing ideas, each giving one and getting one from other students. This continues until each student has all nine boxes filled."
Cindy Martin
Beckley-Stratton Middle School
Beckley, WV

"Using The Twelve Gifts of Birth has become the highlight of the self-esteem/leadership program that is conducted in my school for our 8^th grade girls as a ‘rite of passage’ to the high school. When reflecting on the program and their memories of it, the girls always mention this book. They refer back to it when they need a gentle reminder of how truly gifted they are. Many parents have shared with me how they have found the book open on their daughter’s bed after she is asleep."
Joan Jarrett
Hershey Middle School
Hershey, PA

"I found The Twelve Gifts of Birth to be the perfect message for my Sunday school classes of children with behavioral and learning issues. I used the book over a 12-week period.

I started out using the book in my class as an opening community builder or as a closing reflection and soon found that sharing the gifts became the most important part of our time together. We began to explore the meaning of the gifts in more depth with the text and illustrations providing a springboard for lessons that connected the gifts to Biblical scripture. It was wonderful to watch the children come to an understanding of the gifts and see the gifts within themselves and one another. They were empowered as they experienced ways to use their gifts to make a positive impact on others.

Here are some of the activities we did. Each can be adapted for classroom, scout, camp, or after-school program use:
BEAUTY – I created an activity similar to the photo in the book. I divided six bunches of different types and colors of flowers and let each child chose from the array to make their own bouquet. At the coffee hour after our church service each child approached an elderly person in our church community and gave that person their bouquet.

HOPE – Using colored markers, children decorated small terra cotta flower pots, which were then filled with soil. Each child planted marigold seeds, which grow quickly. Results could be seen at the following week’s class. All the flowering pots were given to a family that was facing a hardship.
LOVE – Using slice and bake cookie dough and a heart shaped cookie-cutter, we baked heart shaped cookies. Each child placed a few cookies into white boxes obtained from a party store. The children also decorated the boxes with heart stickers.   The completed cookie boxes were given to residents at a local nursing home.
Making bookmarks is another easy activity that can be worked into almost any of the gift lessons as a remembrance of that lesson. Have paper bookmarks already cut into the desired shape and size and a hole punched at the top. Using stencils or drawing freehand, students can decorate their bookmarks with crayons or markers. Stickers could be applied too. Tassels can be obtained at craft stores or made with yarn or ribbons.
When sharing thoughts and feelings about the gifts, children sat on carpet squares. Lights were dimmed and an electric candle lighted. A talking stick was used to allow for each child to speak without being interrupted.
I have no doubt that The Twelve Gifts of Birth will continue to help guide my students each day of their lives."
Colleen Stiriti
Director of Christian Education
The Eliot Church of Newton, UCC
Newton, Ma.

"As a community service learning project, as part of our Arizona/Yaqui History and Language class, our students painted inspirational messages in Yaqui, Spanish and English on tiles. The Twelve Gifts of Birth provided the theme. The students’ tiles were then affixed to standing columns supporting the first residential community building in Guadalupe, AZ. The purpose of this project was to have students leave a legacy of their gifts and to encourage them to use their gifts throughout their lives."
Judee Macias-Harris
Teacher/Director
Los Milagros Middle/High School
Guadalupe, AZ

"I used The Twelve Gifts of Birth as the theme for a “Companions on the Way” program at a Center on Health and Aging. I used literature, photo interpretation, biographies, brainstorming, quotes, humor, craft activities, singing, stories in the news, music, and reflection to bring about an experiential appreciation for each gift. Before closing each lesson, everyone gathered in “Wisdom Circles” to share insights and feelings. All such activities could be adapted for use with children. The gifts apply to all ages!"
Sister Carolyn Gory-Kopkowski
Mt. St. Benedict Monastery
Erie, PA

"I am a special needs teacher. I believe the major focus of my job is to instill in children a sense of self worth and help them bring forth their gifts. I am touched and inspired by The Twelve Gifts of Birth. At the end of a school year, several teachers and I presented a play based upon The Twelve Gifts of Birth for the parents of our first and second grade students. Each child chose one of the twelve gifts, the one that was most special to them. They wrote about what that gift meant to them and how they shared the gift with their classmates and the world. It was an incredible process for all involved. There were few dry eyes in the audience that night. It was an experience that will always be remembered."
Angie Hinckley
Pine Grove Elementary School
Rowley, MA

"Reaching Higher is a non-profit educational organization that provides human potential training. We focus on what we consider to be the most important life lessons.   We used The Twelve Gifts of Birth with middle and high school students in our ‘Living Life with Purpose’ session. Students were inspired, empowered, and motivated by the book’s message and the beautiful pictures. I love to use music with lessons. Here are suggestions for middle and high school students for a few of the gifts:
Strength – I Believe I Can Fly
Beauty – Greatest Love of All
Courage – Hero
Compassion – Don’t Laugh at Me
Hope – Your Life Is Now
Love - Heal the World"
Sue Dahlmann
Reaching Higher
Howell, MI

"I am a Parent Educator with the nationally recognized Parents As Teachers program. In April, the school district in which I am employed initiated a program at the Women's Eastern Reception Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Vandalia, MO....Last week I read your book to all three of my classes there...the ladies sat enthralled as I read. When I looked up after reading the book I could tell by the look on their faces how moved many of them were by your words. A flicker of light as well as tears was seen in the eyes of several women. The book was then passed around. I noted that it was handled with extreme care. When I went back this week the most repeated questions were, 'Did you bring the book back? Will you have it next week?' I have a long list of moms who wish to purchase this book for their children." -- Sandra Morrow

"I am a schoolteacher and feel that instilling a strong sense of self worth is one of the most important things I can do for my students. Your book helped me to do that this past school year. Before I read it aloud, I wondered if they would enjoy it as much as I had. Fifth graders, just beginning adolescence, are hard to predict. They were spellbound! -- Gigi Dhindsa

"I will be using the Twelve Gifts in a Bible study class in Clearfield, PA. Please keep writing! I appreciate the value and importance of your work and look forward to seeing more of it." -- Bill A.

"I am a CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocate, volunteer in Kansas City. I work with abused and neglected children...Upon successful completion of placement with my client's children, I have been presenting them with a copy of your book. Each parent has been so thankful and now are giving the book as gifts to their friends. I plan to continue to share this book with clients, friends and family. I wanted you to know the impact you are having on me personally and professionally." -- Michelle L. Poppe.

"I heard you speak in Freehold, New Jersey. I run a domestic violence and child abuse program for the Navy. I recently read your book to a group of mom's in the Navy. They loved it." -- Pamela Schott, LCSW

"I will be using the Twelve Gifts in a Bible study class in Clearfield, PA. Please keep writing! I appreciate the value and importance of your work and look forward to seeing more of it." -- Bill A.

"I bought this book as a sign-in book for my daughter's first birthday party... and everyone loved it! It has a very positive message, which is exactly what I want to express to my daughter. And now that it has messages from all her relatives, I hope she will cherish it forever."

"Wonderful Graduation Present!!, August 15, 2002 Reviewer: Lynn R Charlton (Stoneboro, PA United States) - See all my reviews My son James graduated this June. Although I had given this book many times as a baby present, I decided to try something different. I used it as an inspirational graduation gift for James!"

"I looked back through 18 years worth of pictures and matched pictures of James with the twelve gifts. His sister, brother, and father helped as we searched for just the right photos. For example, on the cover page where it says, "Royal dignity was yours from the day you were born" Psalms 110:3, I glued a baby picture and a graduation picture. On "The first gift is Strength" I glued him in awesome shots from his three sports...basketball, football, and javelin. On "The fifth gift is Hope" I glued a shot of him from the bottom of the stairs as he attempted to crawl up those stairs clad only in a diaper~~along with another shot of him in a triumphant basketball moment. For "the ninth gift is Reverence" I chose a photo of him feeding ducks by a tree-lined lake and another of a tiny James standing on some rocks by the ocean's edge. One of my favorites is the "Faith" page where I put a picture of him kneeling with me and holding Kermit the Frog as he says his prayers. I cut the pictures using templates for scrapbooking, so the shots of James are in ovals, stars, curved edges, etc. The finished product was awesome! When his father and I gave him this book, all of our family sat around as I read it to James. He is a 6'5" wonderful fellow who got teary-eyed as I read it. As he looked at the pictures accompanying each gift, we talked about family and life!...Everyone who sees it wants to order one. One friend is personalizing "The Twelve Gifts of Birth" for her mother! I came across a real life-time treasure when I found this book."

"I've now given this book as a gift several times, and it's always been well received. It also lends itself well to a companion gift that will be treasured. I've sometimes given it with a handmade keepsake handkerchief embroidered with the baby's monogram in the center and the twelve gifts around the perimeter for a christening gift. I've also made little "gemstones" from polymer clay with a gift written in gold ink on each stone (plus a thirteenth blank stone for the child's unique gift) in a little pouch for older kids. The possibilities are limitless with such a wonderful inspiration piece!"

"This book is truly inspiring! Not just for children, but adults as well. My officemates and I were so moved, we wrote to the author and ordered several cases of this book, to give to local shelters and hospitals, etc. It is so heartwarming and special, while not being too "flowery" or overly religious in any way. It belongs in every childs' book collection. A real treat to cherish forever..."

"The story and messages in The Twelve Gifts of Marriage are so important that I give this book, along with a crystal to hang in the window, (as suggested in the story) to all my wedding couples. (I am an ordained minister.)"

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