What should I get for a godparent gift at a Baptism?

Elizabeth Patel67 said:Wait, hold on, I find myself feeling rather perplexed now. If we are discussing a sacrament that serves as the culmination of Christian initiation—the very moment when young people finally gain the autonomy to be chosen as godparents themselves, stepping up to serve as role models and pillars of faith for others—then really, what could possibly be a more fitting gift than the Bible ?!!! Furthermore, if they don't even possess a Bible by that stage of life, then it is surely the absolute most critical moment to provide one... perhaps with a heartfelt inscription from the godparent on the inside cover, something along the lines of "for your continued spiritual growth—this is merely the beginning," or some such sentiment... It isn't just something one would expect from a godparent; it should practically be a solemn obligation. And does anyone actually realize that if a godparent were to advise their godchild to do something that runs contrary to the teachings of the Church, that would constitute a grievous sin for the godparent? I am talking about advice like: "Major in ethics instead, religious studies are just nonsense." Or worse: "Get an abortion, you're far too young to be a parent." Or even: "Skip confession, let's just head to the bar instead."
And in what possible context could giving someone a Bible be considered a mockery?!!!

There you go again with the dramatic nonsense, SamoMaloSebe!😲 🤣

linked to the existing thread

And look... this isn't some dramatic nonsense. The suggestion makes perfect sense, and just because someone makes a point doesn't mean you can't pick up something else while you're at it. 😉

Elizabeth Patel67 said:Wait, hold on, I find myself feeling rather perplexed now. If we are discussing a sacrament that serves as the culmination of Christian initiation—the very moment when young people finally gain the autonomy to be chosen as godparents themselves, stepping up to serve as role models and pillars of faith for others—then really, what could possibly be a more fitting gift than the Bible ?!!! Furthermore, if they don't even possess a Bible by that stage of life, then it is surely the absolute most critical moment to provide one... perhaps with a heartfelt inscription from the godparent on the inside cover, something along the lines of "for your continued spiritual growth—this is merely the beginning," or some such sentiment... It isn't just something one would expect from a godparent; it should practically be a solemn obligation. And does anyone actually realize that if a godparent were to advise their godchild to do something that runs contrary to the teachings of the Church, that would constitute a grievous sin for the godparent? I am talking about advice like: "Major in ethics instead, religious studies are just nonsense." Or worse: "Get an abortion, you're far too young to be a parent." Or even: "Skip confession, let's just head to the bar instead."
And in what possible context could giving someone a Bible be considered a mockery?!!!

I’ve never actually handed someone a Bible as a confirmation gift. When I went through it, the church basically bought (read: paid for) my Bible. If my godparent had actually given me one, it would've just been an extra copy gathering dust on a shelf.

Tyler Thomas12 said:linked to the existing thread

And look... this isn't some dramatic nonsense. The suggestion makes perfect sense, and just because someone makes a point doesn't mean you can't pick up something else while you're at it. 😉

"Dramatic nonsense," my foot! What, is she going to pivot to an off-topic rant about abortion next?! 🤣 She’s already cycled through every single possible topic just to find a way to link it back to that!🙄

Adam Thomas14 said:I’ve never actually handed someone a Bible as a confirmation gift. When I went through it, the church basically bought (read: paid for) my Bible. If my godparent had actually given me one, it would've just been an extra copy gathering dust on a shelf.

And have you seriously never sat down with your godfather to actually discuss the sacrament you're preparing for? If the local parish organizes a bulk purchase of Bibles (which is necessary precisely because godparents often have no clue what they're doing—and since I teach religious education, please, for the love of God, don't come storming into my parish looking for guidance 😬), then you simply tell the godfather not to overspend... though, frankly, those situations are quite rare...

Lawrence Wells said:"Dramatic nonsense," my foot! What, is she going to pivot to an off-topic rant about abortion next?! 🤣 She’s already cycled through every single possible topic just to find a way to link it back to that!🙄

This is what we call an example... Either godparents need to undergo actual preparation (for everyone, not just in those select parishes where the catechists are actually competent) or the whole tradition should just be scrapped entirely, because most people—if not all of them—don't truly grasp the underlying meaning anyway...

Elizabeth Patel67 said:And have you seriously never sat down with your godfather to actually discuss the sacrament you're preparing for? If the local parish organizes a bulk purchase of Bibles (which is necessary precisely because godparents often have no clue what they're doing—and since I teach religious education, please, for the love of God, don't come storming into my parish looking for guidance 😬), then you simply tell the godfather not to overspend... though, frankly, those situations are quite rare...

This is what we call an example... Either godparents need to undergo actual preparation (for everyone, not just in those select parishes where the catechists are actually competent) or the whole tradition should just be scrapped entirely, because most people—if not all of them—don't truly grasp the underlying meaning anyway...

I had zero clue we were getting a Bible from the church. All the priest said was we needed to chip in for "administrative costs" or whatever (this was like 20 years ago). After confirmation, every kid got a little gift bag with a Bible and some relics inside. Pretty sure the priest just assumed godparents wouldn't bother gifting a Bible anyway 🙂

I’m seriously at my wit's end here!😠

then maybe you shouldn't be playing goddamned best man🙂

Wait, are you actually serious right now!!!😂

I picked up some white gold jewelry—earrings and a bracelet—for my goddaughter’s big day, plus I handed her some cash so she could grab whatever else she actually wanted.
She was absolutely thrilled with it.

I actually got something similar for my own company once; jewelry is always a win.

Everyone's obsessed with the latest tech right now, but you can snag a solid bike for around 2000 dollars$833 if you look for it, or maybe a nice watch, or even a great camera (my personal go-to is an Olympus Mju 740/750). A smartphone is also an option if you think she'd use it... though it really depends on whether she’s the athletic type—in which case, get the bike—or more of a tech geek who'd prefer an iPod or a camera.

A Bible wouldn't be my move. Let's face it, a 15-year-old today isn't exactly itching to dive into scripture. That said, I'm not saying you should go overboard with gifts costing 10,000 dollars or more.$5000
If her parents haven't already made sure she's reading the Bible, then it's probably not my job to step in and start preaching to her now.
But hey, that's just how I see it.
Everyone has their own take on what this milestone means and what kind of gift fits best.

I mean, if even the Bible can't account for him, then what kind of devilish force are we actually dealing with here?

shadowtrucker18 said:I mean, if even the Bible can't account for him, then what kind of devilish force are we actually dealing with here?

Just like most kids—they don't really have a choice.. ☕

I’m actually serving as a godmother at a Christmas Eve celebration in two weeks. The girl is just a year younger than me—she's 17—and we are incredibly close. Honestly, that’s exactly why she picked me for the role!😉 So here's the thing... the gift doesn't need to be some massive, over-the-top gesture, $1000. That would be way too much! I have no intention of dropping more than $800, maybe even less $300. I’m thinking about getting her some jewelry, like a white gold necklace and pendant, or maybe a new iPhone since there are some killer deals running right now at Best Buy and T-Mobile. She actually told me herself that she doesn't want anything crazy expensive because she'd feel awkward about it, especially knowing that people in the dance community don't exactly have money to burn. I can't quite pin down when Christmas shifted from a meaningful tradition into this weird, competitive gift-giving marathon, but honestly, it’s a total disaster! Back when I was her age, my godmother gave me a necklace and a cross that I still wear every single day; they mean the world to me. But even more than the jewelry, I treasure the fact that she’s always been there for me. To me, that connection is worth a million times more than any physical object.
Have a blast, cheers!😉

Change of plans... specifically regarding the gift..
I’m going to grab that chopper-style bike, $333 over at Best Buy, plus a camera—that'll run about 3,000—and some jewelry. I actually managed to get the total under 10,000. My mom finally agreed because she thinks the gift will "look substantial enough"

It's insane. Truly insane.
But whatever—I'm not the one footing the bill, and my mom (who is paying) won't shut up about wanting something more expensive... so what can I do? She's being stubborn..

Anyway, here's my recommendation for everyone else: check out this bike, or maybe an iPhone..

She’s my daughter’s godmother—she stood by her at her baptism—but more importantly, she’s been my absolute best friend for over twenty years. Today, she surprised us with a gift: a stunning set of gold earrings and a matching bracelet. They are absolutely gorgeous, and the best part is they're stylish enough to wear every single day. We are both just over the moon with them! But honestly? All that jewelry doesn't even touch the real value here. It’s the way she checks in on us constantly throughout the year—asking how we’re doing, making sure the little one is settling in okay at school... you can't put a price tag on that kind of devotion. No amount of money or gold can replace a bond like ours. Having a friend like her is truly priceless.

My partner acted as best man this weekend and picked up a watch from $500, which I think was perhaps a bit excessive... but, well, it is what it is
I simply told him to wear it so the cost wouldn't go to waste. Thank God he actually wears it 🙏
When I had my own crisis seven years ago, I received a ring that I absolutely loved; I wore it constantly. I don't anymore, as I've stopped wearing jewelry altogether (except for my wedding 😍)

This thread has been pretty quiet lately, but I’m actually serving as the maid of honor for a super close friend of mine this coming May, so I figured I’d bring the conversation back to life... I haven't quite settled on what to get her yet—my plan is to piece together a gift that really hits on her interests while making sure it’s something beautiful she can hold onto forever.

She is absolutely obsessed with history, especially anything involving Egypt and the pyramids... so I’ll probably end up going with a high-end history book on that subject, maybe a nice perfume, and of course a white gold necklace with a little cross.

The way she asked me to be her maid of honor totally caught me off guard; it was so sweet it honestly left me speechless... I actually teared up because I just wasn't expecting it at all. We’re family, we see each other all the time, and I knew she was getting married this year, but I never imagined she’d pick me for such a big role.

She’s seven years younger than me, so I have a feeling she mostly wants me around to help pick out her wedding outfits, grab coffee together, and just hang out, because let's be real—if she wanted some massive, flashy gift, she would’ve called someone else instead of me.

I’ve been thinking about what kind of gift I should get for my godmother. She’s a dear friend of mine, and while I know she isn't exactly rolling in money right now... honestly, that’s the least important thing to me. The real reason I chose her to be my child's godmother is because she lost her entire family far too early in life 😢 And she has always been there for us... she truly is one of the kindest souls I know 🙂

So, I really hope that this bond we share serves as the most beautiful gift we can give one another... truthfully, we don't need anything more than that! 😍

And what about those total lunatics who actually respect what people want? My dear old man asked his godson to be straight with him about what he really wanted, the kid says he wants a motorcycle, and my dad just goes, "Yeah, sure, no problem." Meanwhile, Mom is absolutely losing her mind...
I’m not being jealous or anything, but the guy has money to blow, and I just don't get why he'd waste it on someone else's ticket to a one-way trip toward death! Is he out of his mind or what?
Seriously though, if he already gave the green light, what kind of actual arguments am I even supposed to use to talk him out of buying this bike???