| You're busy checking off the items on
| |
| | find that their gifts are ignored and
|
| your to-do list. Most of the gifts have
| |
| | their feelings are hurt.
|
| been wrapped. And the holiday cards made
| |
| | The gift of receiving is largely
|
| it to the post office this morning. Oh,
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| | overlooked and overshadowed by the need
|
| but you forgot about your daughter's
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| | to give. While gifts require money and
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| teacher! And what to take to the Smith's
| |
| | time to purchase, or money, time, and
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| annual Christmas Eve get together? And
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| | labor to make, the gift of receiving is
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| then the cookies for the school carnival
| |
| | free and priceless.
|
| and you used the last of the sugar in
| |
| | You can't put a price tag on your
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| yesterday's brownies for the church fund
| |
| | children's glee seeing your face light up
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| raiser.
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| | with pleasure when their
|
| Then just at the same time that you are
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| | candle-made-in-a-milk-carton turns into
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| trying to figure out what to wear to the
| |
| | the finest glow the season can shine in
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| office party, what should occur? Your two
| |
| | your direction. There's no material value
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| tiny elves run into your bedroom loaded
| |
| | that equates with friends and
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| down with treasures they made at school,
| |
| | acquaintances complimenting your looks,
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| all meant just for you!
| |
| | your talent, your friendship. And your
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| But you haven't got the time to stop and
| |
| | spouse's romantic appreciation for who
|
| pay attention. The party's in just an
| |
| | you really are, well, it's all you really
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| hour. "Put them under the tree," you
| |
| | wished for, isn't it? And yet . . .
|
| command, turning back to your closet,
| |
| | And yet it's not too late to make a
|
| missing the dejection flattening those
| |
| | resolution that this year you will give
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| eager faces that want nothing more than
| |
| | the gift of receiving, the precious gift
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| to please you.
| |
| | of paying attention to every person who
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| You and your spouse make it to the party
| |
| | wants to please you. You needn't gush or
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| on time, but when several people there
| |
| | say you like something you don't. But
|
| tell you how attractive you look, you
| |
| | you do have to notice any feelings that
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| don't care because you're bothered by
| |
| | arise telling you that you don't deserve
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| your kids sulkiness as the two of you
| |
| | all this generosity. You do have to stay
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| left the house. You wonder what was
| |
| | on guard against the distractions of your
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| troubling them.
| |
| | grocery list or that phone call you
|
| Two days later your darling sweetheart
| |
| | forgot to make that want to steal you
|
| arrives home from work with a bonus
| |
| | away precisely at the time that someone
|
| check, setting up a surprise by placing
| |
| | is filling your plate with emotionally
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| it on your pillow with a note that says,
| |
| | delicious goodies!
|
| "To thank you for who you are, this will
| |
| | Why?
|
| take us to Paris in the springtime! MUCH
| |
| | Because the gift of receiving, the
|
| LOVE from Your Biggest Fan!" That night
| |
| | heartfelt "Thank you" is often difficult
|
| you stay up late to get those dozens and
| |
| | to give. We've all been taught not to be
|
| dozens of cookies baked, so you can drop
| |
| | self-centered, to focus on the other
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| them off when you take the kids to school
| |
| | person while remaining modest and humble.
|
| the next day. When you crawl into bed at
| |
| | However, most of us obey those
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| 1 AM your honey is fast asleep so you
| |
| | instructions to the point of self-denial.
|
| can't turn the light on. You assume that
| |
| | But then, ZAP! in one split second you
|
| the crinkling paper you lay your head on
| |
| | are center stage. And that early teaching
|
| is some of your darling partner's last
| |
| | rings loud and clear: "Get rid of it!
|
| minute office work and throw it on the
| |
| | Pass it off! Don't get caught being
|
| floor. The next day you have to be told
| |
| | admired, appreciated, or even loved! Who
|
| about the surprise and the disappointment
| |
| | do you think you are?"
|
| caused because you missed it.
| |
| | Take the gift of receiving seriously.
|
| Gifts galore!!! And no one to receive
| |
| | When you embrace the beauty and
|
| them.
| |
| | generosity of what others give you, you
|
| The old adage admonishes "'Tis better to
| |
| | will be changed. And you will be changed
|
| give than to receive." But when the
| |
| | into a more self-respectful and
|
| giving lands on unreceptive hearts, what
| |
| | self-loving person.
|
| good is it? In fact, as our all too
| |
| | What better gift could you give yourself,
|
| familiar tale above makes clear, the
| |
| | and everyone else, than that?
|
| excited, observant, appreciative givers
| |
| |
|
