Generosity's Lasting Gift
The Art Of Giving
Giving graciously is a sentiment that labors under a dichotomy. On one hand, giving is a beautiful expression of warm feelings that come from the heart. And yet, it is easy to find oneself under tremendous pressure to unearth the ultimate manifestation of those feelings. It often becomes a competition of who can buy the most generous, most expensive, or most thoughtful gift. But it has never been necessary to realize the spirit of giving in material form. True generosity is merely a matter of a deep understanding of the recipient's tastes, hopes, needs, and dreams.
Baltasar Gracian noted that, "the great art of giving consists in this: the gift should cost very little and yet be greatly coveted, so that it may be the more highly appreciated." The most extraordinary gifts are often intellectual or emotional in form, such as knowledge, awareness, support, empathy, or silence. Many people face loneliness or loss during important events, and for those people, devoted personal time, a homemade meal, or a helpful service can be the greatest of all gifts. Generous gift giving is also about letting go of hurt, grudges, and those things that stand in the way of our connection to others. Giving is an essential part of relating to others and when we give freely of ourselves without latent negativity, we express who we are, how we feel, and what we believe in. It has the power to foster connections, removing the spaces that hide people's true natures from one another. Though presenting another with a gift can often inspire warm feelings, when give! n without feelings of resentment, pressure, or bitterness, can be a tremendous source of joy for both the giver and the recipient.
The art of giving is its own reward, one to be enjoyed in the present and into the future. But defined in terms of the perfect or most expensive or biggest material gift, it loses something. Giving is simply an act of caring and a gift can be as simple as a helping hand, a kind word, or a pleasant glance. In understanding this, giving as well as receiving begins to bring a genuine sense of self-satisfaction, happiness, and peace.
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