What is it about Jerusalem that draws us to its cobbled streets and worn stones? Is it the footprints of the ancient people who carved the city from the stones found in the surrounding hills? Is it the spirituality of the incumbent inhabitants that fought and struggled to maintain their right to be there? Is it modern Jerusalem with its thriving market places and its trendy bars and eateries that attract well heeled executives to sit alongside the faithful as they fortify their bodies and souls?
Jerusalem is the eternal prize in the religious World – it is the center of the three religions that controlled ancient civilization and was at the core of the religious wars that formed modern mankind. It is the hub; the definitive home of Christianity and the symbol of all that is holy for Christians the World over.
When we search for a Christian gift, we sometimes forget the significance that Jerusalem has for someone whose connection with Christianity is defined by the presence of the Holy Land. Those who manage to visit Jerusalem often come home vowing to make a return journey, feeling their connection with the Holy City is both strengthening and inspiring.
Gifts for Christians can sometimes be a difficult call – what do you buy for someone for whom Christianity is the major part of their life? Prayer books and cards are a thoughtful gift but many people have their favorite prayer books and bibles and prefer sentimentally to use them as a matter of habit. Silver crosses and St Christopher medals are nice but really they are manufactured far from the Holy Land, mass produced in some factory that has little connection with Jerusalem and even less meaning as an appropriate Christian gift.
One of the most beautiful Christian gifts are made of Jerusalem stone; crosses and small stones in velour gift bags that can be given as a gift to keep forever, rather than the here-today-and-gone-tomorrow novelty gift that feature so many religious holidays in recent years.
After the holidays are over, we tend to pack away gift items that we have received that we will not use – sometimes that is the last we will see of them! At least by giving a gift that is meaningful, it will be looked at and handled each day of the year and remind the recipient of where it came from and how beautiful the Holy City of Jerusalem is; a solid connection with the Holy Land.
Born in Florida, Cathy grew up in Columbus, Georgia. She graduated with a BA Honors in Journalism from the University of Texas, where the emphasis of her studies was in photojournalism. After studying commercial photography at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, Cathy moved abroad to Israel where she has been for the past 23 years. Prior to forming <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="“http://mystonecompany.com/”” target=””_blank””>My Stone Company in 2005, Cathy specialized in food and portrait photography Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/gifts-articles/the-jerusalem-stone-and-the-christian-gift-1511982.html
