I learned what makes a Christmas gift the very best while picking out greeting cards.
Some think the perfect gift is getting that perfect something that causes a person to exclaim, "just what I always wanted!" My mother tells the story of one birthday of mine when I was very young, every gift I opened I said that coveted phrase. She was delighted by my reaction, as I am sure the other children at my little party were.
Unfortunately with the years, my enthusiasm diminished, and much to my regret now, I became a less than enthusiastic receiver of gifts. My regrettable attitude became, "that is NOT what I wanted." I had lost the true meaning of gifting, and in the process I fear I hurt the feelings of more than one person who had offered a gift to me.
A poor receiver of gifts is a person worthy to be a partner of Scrooge before his fateful visit by the Ghosts of Christmas.
Luckily, like Scrooge himself, I had my eyes opened to the true meaning of what makes the "Perfect Gift." You see, the Perfect Gift is NOT the item, it is the THOUGHT, the EFFORT, and/or the SACRIFICE of the giver of the gift. Slowly, over the period of a year or two, I learned this as I began to notice how much time some people take to pick out greeting cards. Like them, I had stood for long periods of time looking at card after card till I found one that conveyed a sentiment that was right. Then I noticed how little time the receiver of a card will often spend looking at a card . . . and then it hit me (finally).
It was the effort and time spent picking the card, picking the gift. Thinking about the recipient, and then the sacrifice of money and/or time. THAT was the true gift, THAT is what was really given.
Now I look at every gift, every card in a new light. I think of my friend or loved one spending time thinking of me, thinking about what might please me, or make me laugh and then sacrificing their time and money to present it to me. THAT is JUST what I ALWAYS wanted!
Some think the perfect gift is getting that perfect something that causes a person to exclaim, "just what I always wanted!" My mother tells the story of one birthday of mine when I was very young, every gift I opened I said that coveted phrase. She was delighted by my reaction, as I am sure the other children at my little party were.
Unfortunately with the years, my enthusiasm diminished, and much to my regret now, I became a less than enthusiastic receiver of gifts. My regrettable attitude became, "that is NOT what I wanted." I had lost the true meaning of gifting, and in the process I fear I hurt the feelings of more than one person who had offered a gift to me.
A poor receiver of gifts is a person worthy to be a partner of Scrooge before his fateful visit by the Ghosts of Christmas.
Luckily, like Scrooge himself, I had my eyes opened to the true meaning of what makes the "Perfect Gift." You see, the Perfect Gift is NOT the item, it is the THOUGHT, the EFFORT, and/or the SACRIFICE of the giver of the gift. Slowly, over the period of a year or two, I learned this as I began to notice how much time some people take to pick out greeting cards. Like them, I had stood for long periods of time looking at card after card till I found one that conveyed a sentiment that was right. Then I noticed how little time the receiver of a card will often spend looking at a card . . . and then it hit me (finally).
It was the effort and time spent picking the card, picking the gift. Thinking about the recipient, and then the sacrifice of money and/or time. THAT was the true gift, THAT is what was really given.
Now I look at every gift, every card in a new light. I think of my friend or loved one spending time thinking of me, thinking about what might please me, or make me laugh and then sacrificing their time and money to present it to me. THAT is JUST what I ALWAYS wanted!
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