The Act Of Giving

Giving in it's own self expects nothing in return.  I heard that saying today and it made me think.  I believe it means that in giving you give yourself a wealth of happiness as long as you don't expect anything in return.  

From a small child I have loved to see the face of a person that I've given a gift to.  It's so much fun to see someone get just the right gift.  Why is that fun?  I believe it's because in the small act of giving we put ourselves aside for just a moment in order to give another person happiness.

I've been sitting here all night feeling regretful that I can't give my kids those piles of gifts.  I can't see a huge pile of presents under the tree.  I was grieving for the lose of that giving feeling.  

Then the question came to me "is giving only giving when you have money", or can we give of ourselves.  So I sat and listed what I give.  I'm not going to go thru the list but I was happy to see that I do give as much as I can.  So in this Christmas of need and want I have found myself once more slapping myself silly because instead of being grateful I've been filled with bitterness.  That is the opposite to me of giving.

So for the remainder of the week I'll find a way to bring back the happiness of Christmas starting with baking.  Giving my family the gift of smelling the cookies baking will bring happiness.  I guess when all is said and done maybe the gift of giving is needed by me to me.  Giving myself the clarity that it's not always what we give it's that we give what we can.  If you only have a smile to give then give that.  Be as happy giving that as you would giving the I-Pad.  Give a hand when a child falls,  give advise to someone who needs it and in my nieces case use your abilities to give someone love in doing for them what you've learned.  Sometimes when someone does your hair out of love it means so much more than if they bought you a car.  (Well maybe not ha ha).

Maybe I needed to learn the lesson of gratitude and happiness.  I am a rich woman.  I have 5 men who love me very much.  I have 2 daughter in law's who are every woman's dream.  They are my daughters and at times my friends.  I have 2 grandsons and wonder of wonder I have a little girl who I will be able to hold in just a few short months.  With her will come the spring sunshine and happiness.  Wealth cannot be measured by what you have in the bank but rather by who loves you and who you love back.  On top of all that there are people who have come into my life this year that I'm so grateful for.  

So I will stand on my mountain and say Thank You God for giving to me the clarity of what's important in life.

 

Have a great weekend.

Much Love,

Sharon