"the director gifted her with a heart-shaped brooch"
My word for this year is receive. As the year has moved along I realized receive and give go together. I love giving gifts, but have always had a difficult time receiving them. In a way I don't feel worthy of receiving; so never know how to react to the gift.
This year I have wrapped my gifts under the tree earlier than usual. I am so excited to be giving each gift.
I asked my "live-in gardener" what gift means to him and his answer was "undeserving mercy".
I am trying through my word "receive" to be a gracious receiver of gifts.
For me giving and receiving are a part of the gift and joy of the season. Many are giving to their favorite charity too. I was thrilled to be able to donate a bag of socks to my church pantry. My church body are wonderful givers. We are sponsoring an Afghan family and I was thrilled to also be able to give the gift of tea as they set up their household.
Thus said, I am having to remind myself to be "thrilled" with the gifts I receive. It's a hard one for me.
How do you handle giving and receiving of gifts? Is it just me or do you also have a difficult time with gifts?
3 comments:
Your gifts look so special and are beautifully wrapped Marilyn. . . I just know the recipients will love opening them, and they will bring much joy to everyone.
I love to give but never really think too much about receiving, so when I do I feel exceptionally special that someone took the trouble to think of me with a gift. This year we are not doing a lot of gifting as parcels and packages, mainly because shopping has not been easy.
We will welcome Christmas very quietly - a chance to remember the real meaning - and to pray for better times ahead.
Have a wonderful holiday - with love from us both.
I do have trouble receiving gifts now. I never did before -- always grateful, always loved everything. Now it is all just too much. Especially with those far away where you know how to neither give or receive. You want the experience of sharing but I'd like to make a rule that says "if I can't eat it, paint with it, read it, wear it or experience it, please just give me good wishes." I don't need one THING, one more mug, one more cute stuffy. And I feel bad when I open things, knowing someone spent money on it, fully appreciating the gesture but feeling guilty with it. I'm a better (and now, more careful) giver. I think that's it. I feel worthy enough. Just guilty.
I love each and every photo here, Marilyn. It's all so very beautiful and you are a wonderful wrapper!
AND, I will NEVER except "gifted" as a verb for giving. To me, "gifted" is a very smart or talented person, one with a gift. When I hear "she gifted me with a ...." it's like nails on a chalkboard! Call me old school! When it comes to grammar, I am!
The gifts under your tree are beautifully wrapped, a gift before the unwrapping is begun. Giving is easier than receiving for me, but I have learned, and continue to learn how to receive graciously. There is much in the word "receive" and I'll be curious to see how you interpret it throughout the year.
Merry Christmas, Marilyn!
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