I've been thinking about giving and gifts...There is a grace to giving a gift as much as there a grace in receiving a gift. There are gifts of the heart, gifts of time and gifts for occasions. There are gifts to say I'm thinking of you and there are gifts that speak to the heart ... the gifts that say "I saw this and knew it was perfect for you", which is the same to my mind as saying "I'm thinking of you". There are gifts of thanks and gifts of praise.
There is being a gift in someones life simply in being a friend, being someone who listens, being someone who understands another person. The same gift given in times of trouble and sorrow as in times of joy and happiness.
There are gifts that make you cry and smile. There are gifts that make you laugh and feel like the universe is really spinning in it's axis.
There are gifts that make you uncomfortable because you know the bow on top is really a tie that once opened will mean the person on the other end is holding on for dear life. The gift that if you accept you feel you are beholden to that person.
Gifts are sometimes given for selfish reasons and reasons that have nothing to do with the recipient and everything to do with the giver. It's important to know the difference.
My sister, bless her, had a very hard time with gifts, both giving and receiving. On many levels she associated the gift with how much she was loved, or in some cases, how little. In some cases she gave gifts not as tokens of friendship but as a means to an end. She believed that she could buy love. For years I tried to make her realize that people would love her for herself and not for what she could do or give. If people loved her only for what she could give them, was that really love? True, I'm sure there are people who value love and friendship by quantity and quality, but I hope they too will realize that the quality of the relationship, the love and the caring are worth more than the dollar amount spent on the gift.
Life itself is a gift. One I'm glad I get to celebrate every day.
*photo from wedding planning makes perfect on the web
18 comments:
Having a lot of thoughts about this same topic and how our family handles gift giving and receiving too. But mostly thinking about how I feel about gift giving...I think that need to be loved and accepted comes through in the kind of gifts I try to give - you know, that one perfect gift for that person, every single time ? Not usually monetarily but in terms of thoughtfulness. It has become way too much pressure to keep up with my own expectations and motivations. This is a good lesson for me...I know my family loves me. We show each other that in so many ways every day and as you say, those are the real gifts.
You are a gift to me, my beautiful friend.
Love you !
I love gifts...giving and receiving. I admit, though, that sometimes I get tripped up, just like your sister. And then I stumble across something like this post of yours and it all falls back into place...
Thank you!
*throwing glitter around* Life is beautiful and is definitely a gift!
LuLu~xoxo
Well said. Makes me think like most of your post do.
Life is a gift and we can not forget our talents are our gifts from God. Using your God given talent to give back to society will reap rewards. It's a wonderful feeling.
really need to chew on that one. layers ans layers...
I've always considered myself to be a lousy, lazy gift wrapper – don’t use ribbons and bows. Perhaps there’s another reason for this - that I never want any strings attached to the gifts I choose to give? (Yes, I know, the lazy factor is still “part and parcel” of it all.)
Today you were – yet again – a gift in my life. And there wasn’t a ribbon or bow on you!
Gifts can be very difficult. Or easy. Depending on the relationship...
I love to receive gifts, but I love giving them far more. The satisfaction of knowing you've uplifted a heart is a beautiful blessed gift. (:
Loved your last sentence: "Life itself is a gift. One I'm glad I get to celebrate every day."
YeeeHaaaw!
Oh so true! there was a time that I felt I had to impress with my gifts. I finally let go of that sorry attitude and have found that the simple gifts from my heart and hands are met with much more enthusiasm than the expensive things I used to give. And yes, life is a gift and remembering that helps me appreciate the gift, and the giver, so much more:>)
Here's to celebrating life! Your words are always so beautiful and they always feed my soul. THank you for that. I love giving gifts and wrapping them up beautifully...especially when I am giving them to someone who "gets" what I'm doing. I'm leaning more towards gift that come from me..a calendar with my photos, etc. I want them to be more personal.
Life is a gift, and these friends and supporters discovered through blogging are a gift... great post!
Sherry Lee:
What a beautiful commentary on gifts.
I reflected on your words and I discovered that I love giving gifts more than receiving them...although that's not to say that I don't like getting them but not as much as giving. There's excitement in watching the receiver's face light up and the anticipation. I can only imagine what God feels like when we wake up each and every day...ready to see what lies in store for us. Thank you.
Hello Sherry
My family keep asking me what I want for my birthday but I keep telling them that every day is my birthday...I don't need anything at all...
Happy days
Isn't it interesting that so many women have a hard time receiving? So often gifts have strings attached which makes us wary. Learning to receive is, in itself, a gift, don't you think?
What a beautiful post!! I didn't notice you have a 'following' spot at the bottom of your blog until today... yea... now I won't miss a post!
Gift giving and receiving - especially in familes can be difficult . Last xmas - both my SIL spent a fortune on us both and while i did not feel too guilty M did .I tried to explain why worry what we spent on them it was what we could afford - think of to give , why get into debt more ( that`s one of my realistic approaches to it not his ) So this year i am telling them to spend a specified amount on us both - and we`ll do the same for them . That way we all feel happy !
I seem to lean towards giving gifts , the reaction i get and then knowing i made someones day . i do like getting gifts - more so the unexpected ones - like your butterfly necklace - amazing colours - i love it !! And you - au naturel - beautiful ! ;o)
What i love is the gift of our friendship - can you believe it - it will be 2 yrs this Oct ! ?
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