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