I personally feel some joy in the fact that there is a season set aside and somewhat universally acknowledged for gift-giving. It’s like a government sanctioned generosity of spirit.
In the book of Acts from the Holy Bible, there is a verse, “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” On the whole of it, and in all honesty, that might seem a bit wonky. After all, aren’t we supposed to feel especially blessed to be the center of attention, opening the gifts given to us?
However, I have observed in my lifetime that there have been quite a few moments when, giving something to someone was an absolute thrill. There’s a special feeling of giddiness watching someone open a present and beam with happiness at something you selected for them with your whole heart.
So, there is a synchronous give-receive, action-reaction mechanism in the process of gifting. Surely someone has conducted a scientific study proving some kind of serotonin boost in this gifting experience. I wouldn’t be surprised to find that that scripture in Acts is scientifically proven to be truth.
When our daughter was young, we absolutely delighted in shopping for “shoe-box gifts” for the Christian organization, Samaritan’s Purse. To this day, as an adult, our daughter loves selecting gifts for others. In fact, I would say that it’s a toss up whether she prefers giving, equally as much as receiving, gifts.
“Tis the season,” for gratitude as well as generosity. There’s something about the holiday lights that warms the winter cold and enlightens the heaviness in this season of longer nights than days, making us more easily acknowledge our thanks for gifts given.
I once said boldly at a church meeting, that “I can’t imagine it ever being wrong to give.” But a woman spoke, just as boldly, that we should be discerning when we give, and that it is indeed wrong sometimes, to give.
So, as I often do in such circumstances, I checked myself and pondered her comment. Should I be more cautious in giving? The more I thought about it, I went back to my original stance, that it’s never wrong to give. I thought, “who am I to judge the worthiness of another to whom I’m inclined to give. How someone receives my gift is one hundred percent up to them.”
Then there are gifts, otherwise known as talents. Back in the day, certain children were deemed to be “gifted” and were given more challenging lessons and opportunities for learning, than us regular guys.
I’m a tad shocked that in 2023, with all of our political correctness, that not only is the term “gifted” still used, it’s expanded to “gifted and talented.” So there, you talent-less schmucks out there, you might be labeled GNT only if you imbibe in the occasional or daily gin and tonic.
It is my opinion that gifts and talents seem to be distributed pretty much across the board to everyone. But some of those gifts appear to be more socially sanctioned than others. Therefore, some folks seem to get all the awards and rewards for their gifts while others remain unsung and uncelebrated, although equally gifted and talented.
Should we get jealous of others with flashier gifts than ours? If someone is more talented than me, am I envious?
I wonder if, instead of comparing our gifts or talents, to others, we might think of the greater gifts that we possess and those that really matter. It might just be that these greater gifts won’t be found under the tree, but around it. Ponder these gifts and let your heart shine when you see how many of them you already have, wanting nothing.
Health, someone who believes in you, vision – not sight, toleration, love of others, free choice, attention to yourself, a boss who wants you to succeed, ability to soldier on through the storms, freedom to be you, books, unconditional love – just because, passion for life, children, a positive attitude, imagination, self-expression, friendship ….
Next in this little experiment, try giving away some or all of these gifts, and just see if the writer of the book of Acts was right, is it indeed more blessed to give than to receive?