The Christmas season has always been one of my favorite holiday seasons. As a child it meant all kinds of whimsical things from flying reindeer and stockings that mysteriously filled with goodies overnight to keeping a glittering tree in the living room and keeping secrets about gifts. My mom would play special Christmas music at home, and radio stations and television shows did the same. Everyday it seemed like we baked a new Christmas goodie and the house was always full of good smells -- pine and cinnamon and peppermint. We visited family in Sebastopol and drove to Santa Rosa to see the brightly lit houses on "Candy Cane Lane". I could go on with Christmas reminiscences but I really wanted to talk about something else!
Christmas still remains a favorite season of mine. As I've gotten older I've enjoyed making and giving gifts more than receiving them myself. Part of this is because I am older and I've got just about everything I need! But part of it is because the pleasure of giving means more to me now than it did when I was a child. I still delight in the sparkling tree, the music, the baking, and getting together with family and friends. More than ever before I enjoy going to church during this season and hearing the good old story of Christ's birth once again. Having said all that...
If I give you a gift, I don't expect one back. I gave it to you because I wanted to. I wanted to because I like you and hope to make you smile. Or maybe I don't even know you but I hope to make you smile. You see, the world can be a really ugly place and genuine smiles are often few and far between. It makes me smile to think I might have made you smile. We can't have too many smiles.
Here's one --> ^_^
If I give you a gift, I'm not trying to impress you or buy your favor. My intention was not to make you think I'm generous or "good". I gave it to you because I thought of you and wanted to let you know. Okay, so maybe there are other people you'd rather have thinking about you but, if they don't, I did, and it may be a small thing but it is something. ;)
If I give you a gift, I know it's hard for some of you to say, "Thank you." And while I always appreciate thank yous -- they truly warm my heart -- I've learned not to expect them. I won't stop liking you if you don't say it but it would be nice...kind even. It's a lovely, simple phrase that expresses appreciation and gratitude without obligation to do anything further.
Now, if I do NOT give you a gift, it doesn't mean I don't like you. It doesn't mean I don't think of you. It could mean that I've given gifts to you many times before and never heard a peep in return, not even a cursory "I got the thing you sent", and don't wish to bother you anymore. But most likely it means I couldn't think of any "thing" you'd like more than just being friends. Or maybe I'm just waiting 'til I find the perfect gift; something that would really delight you or be truly useful to you. Okay...maybe I forgot. But I'm really good at apologizing and making up for things like that, you'll see!
In a modern and prosperous society I think gift-giving can lose much of its meaning and reason for being practiced at all. It certainly has lost its direction in many cases and, sadly, wrong motives are often attached to gift-giving even if the giver is honestly giving from the heart. With that in mind, I'd like to encourage you to graciously accept gifts at face value, cheerfully say "thank you", and continue on with your day. That "thank you", by the way, is a gift in itself!
In closing, here is some age-old wisdom and truth for you to consider and apply to your holiday season: the greatest gift is love. :)
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