The Gift of Giving

Sleigh bells ring.
People sing.
Wrapping paper lays on the floor.
Wreaths, on the door.
Decorations light up homes.
Joy seems to bubble under the surface, only to build up throughout the season.

It is Christmastime.

And this makes me smile.

It also makes me think of giving.
An obvious point, yes, but there is a part of giving that is overlooked. Maybe because of pride. Maybe because of thoughtlessness. Maybe because of false humility. Maybe just because so much focus gets put on being the giver (a truly valuable thing to be, for sure).

This overlooked part?
It's the receiving.
Allowing the giver to give.
Being thankful and receptive.
Being touched that someone wants to give you a gift.
It's about allowing them the opportunity to give.
Saying "thank-you" instead of making a fuss over the fact that they "shouldn't have done this".
It's being a gracious receiver.

This, my friends, is the gift of giving.

It is okay to receive a gift. It is a beautiful thing. Not everyone can say they have gifts given to them.
Be blown away at the opportunity you have to receive.
Be amazed that someone wants to give you something.
Be touched in the heart-warming place, that you can smile because of something someone did for you.

It has nothing to do with guilt; it has nothing to do with obligation; it is a gift.

A gift, by its very definition, is something given because someone was willing to give it without expectation or payment.
Receive it.

Be a giver, absolutely, but don't forget to be a receiver.

Receive.
And in this very act, you are being a giver. You give the gift of giving. You give the gift of allowing someone else to feel good, even if for a moment, because they had a chance to act out of love and do a good thing.
Receiving is giving. They are so intertwined, like ribbons tied onto a present.

In a world where we feel pressured to give gifts, give because of love. Give always. Giving is a beautiful act of worship and self-sacrifice.
But when there is a giver, there is also a receiver.
In a world where we feel guilty to receive gifts, receive because of love. Receive humbly. Receiving is a beautiful act of humility and thankfulness.

Because, as many Christmas posts go, I must make note of the most beautiful gift given - the deep, passionate love of God. And the ramifications of being a poor receiver of that gift are great and devastating. Yet it's such a good and perfect, life-saving gift!
Say "Thank-You!"
Say "Praise You!"
Take that gift, use it, live it, give it.
Receive.
No guilt.
No shame.
No regret.
Receive.

"God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love - not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." (1 John 4:9-10, NLT)