Giving and Receiving ...

Blog161:

When one's resources are meager, how does one share the little she or he has to make the holidays worthwhile and meaningfully festive?

My short-lived participation in the lives of people I know, and those I have met along during this past holiday 2012 put me in check in so far as generosity is concerned.  I caught myself far more judicious in spending and showing folks with 'things'!  I however continue to wonder ... and am amazed at how some hard-up folks could go all out buying presents for all people they know or do not know well.  For the one's we want to recognize and thank for service through the year,
I could accept showering a small gift ... really small, mind you, something tht would not kill my means of living.  What I could not deal well with are those folks who give away their personal resources for other reasons --- keeping up with the giving practice or tradition, for example!  I observed these past few days so many whom I knew could really not spare anything, did go out of their resources and capacity to spend.  I don't mean to frown at the gesture, but pushing one's self to give in spite of economic challenges is crazy ... in my view!  How can anyone jeopardize one's living expense for the coming days?  Why was it important to shower another with seemingly unimportant items that folks could live without?   Why couldn't greetings and well-wishes be enough?

To give, out of sincere caring or need has intrinsic value.  For instance, getting someone a pair of shoes and clothing because one is in dire need of it is a solemn act.  Sharing some of one's food with the desperately hungry is  not only meaningfull, but it is the right action to take.  It is alright to share temporarily with those who could not truly help themselves stand on their feet.  We are our sister and brother's keeper when they are in need, afterall. To give, because it is expected, and it is the trend ... is definitely unwise.

I had wondered what had happened to making something useful as presents from items we may have on hand: a card, a drawing, something of interest from our own creativity derived from commonplace or recyclable items and scraps lying around our homes.  All have usefulness, and could be appreciated when constructed and given love ... thought.  How about an act of kindness, a helpful chore we could help someone with? These seemingly have disappeared as alternative to 'buying' presents and sharing good cheer.  As we welcome the new year, perhaps all of us should revisit our store-bought presents for others and our merry-making things, as well as our purposes for 'giving'. We should come up with wiser decisions.  Our economically-trying days are ahead.  For now, we have at least 300-some days to reflect before the next holiday season wrapped up in gift-giving comes once again.  It behooves us not to be more conscious of our actions!