Beth's Ponderings
“It’s more
blessed to give than to receive.”
I’m sure you’ve
heard that little homily before, and seems to become more popular around
Christmas time.
While this is
considered to be an antidote to the “gimme’s,” and encourage people to be more
generous, it really isn’t as true a sentiment as we’ve been led to believe, and
has unfortunately made receiving a bad thing in our society.
First off, if
everyone is giving, or supposed to be giving, who are they actually giving
to? Who is really receiving their
gifts? Is there even anyone left to
receive what is being given?
Second, can you
really be considered a giver if someone doesn’t accept or receive your
gift? Have you really given something
away if there isn't a recipient on the other side to acknowledge it?
Third, it is impossible
to give something to someone without receiving something in return. I don’t mean a tangible reciprocated gift,
but that by giving gifts to others, or doing a service, we receive (experience)
more warmth, joy, compassion, and love in our hearts.
And, lastly,
receiving isn’t evil. When we refuse to
accept another’s gift, we are really rejecting the other person’s desire to
bring joy, or be of service, in our lives.
The same qualities we desire when we give. In fact, I recently heard someone say that
graciously receiving what others give is the greatest gift that you can give to
anyone.
Just as it is
impossible to only and continuously exhale (or inhale, for that matter), it is
impossible to only and continuously give.
And, just as with our breathing, with the exhale creating space and
leading automatically into the inhale and so on, when we give something we are
automatically creating space to receive something new. Each gift given gives to both the recipient
AND the giver, and each give received is received by both the recipient and the
giver.
We are told
Christmas is the season of giving...it is not really. It is the season of BOTH giving and receiving. So, this year we should remember, “it is
more blessed to give AND to receive.”
Merry Christmas!
Beth
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