Giving and Receiving

I am a gift giver. I love finding the perfect gift for someone else. I want people I care about to know I was thinking about them and wishing them well. It brings me more joy than ever receiving even the most perfect, thoughtful gift. This month I chose to practice giving and receiving. Giving each person I come in contact with a gift of even a smile or a prayer. An intentional pause to be present with that person even for a moment. On the receiving side, I knew I had some serious work to do.

Some of my very closest friends knew I was going to be practicing this and challenged me to accept gifts from them. One friend brought me coffee, another bought me coffee, and another came over and just hung out with me when they knew I was lonely. It went against my instinct to say, “no”, to say, “everything is fine”. It was uncomfortable at first, but I was practicing. I was grateful and I was able to express that and to receive.

A few weeks into this practice something shifted for me. Something unexpected. I began to pray for everyone I came in contact with. I was sending them love and light and becoming aware of others pain. I was more present, not pressing through with my own lists and agendas. I was serving those around me in whatever way I could in each interaction. I was feeling so useful in doing what I once considered so little.

I haven’t been perfect. I’ve still lost my temper and brushed past people, but I’ve definitely grown. I want to give more of myself. More love and more presence. I want to listen and really hear. I want to share and I want to receive the beautiful gifts of time and presence from those around me.

I hope you have received encouragement from someone today. I hope if you are reading this you will hear that you are loved and a gift just by being you. There is no one like you, beautiful and worthy of every good thing. We are all just doing the very best that we can. It’s ok to just show up sometimes. To receive the love of others so that we can more freely give of our gifts and talents. Wishing you so much love and light today and always.

Love~Erin