Will You Accept My Gift?

Written by Lisa Frost
Absurdly Improbable

10th Jun 2007

www.absurdlyimprobable.com

A gift can be many things. It can be a physical item, such as a book, a cd, a beautiful picture or a golden ring. It can be an event, such as a balloon ride, a surprise party, a night at the movies or a home cooked meal. Or it can be something less tangible, like a compliment, a hug, shared knowledge or a smile.

But have you ever thought about what a gift really is?

True gifts come from the heart. True gifts are love.

When a person is gifting you with something, regardless of what it is, what they are really doing is giving you love. How you treat gifts is a perfect reflection of how you treat love.

When someone offers to buy you a meal do you accept it gratefully?
Or do you reject it and say, "You don't have to do that"?

Of course they don't have to. They want to.
Gifts, and love, don't come from having to - they can only be given freely from the heart.

When someone smiles and laughs do you smile back and join in the laughter?
Or do you frown and start thinking of all the reasons they could be making fun of you?

We are only ever inadequate in our own eyes.
Joy and laughter want to share and include, never mock and ostracise.

When someone gives you a compliment do you smile and say, "Thank you!"?
Or do you become uncomfortable and reply, "No I'm not. You're just saying that to be nice"?

Er, that's right they are... because to them, it is true!
A compliment is a great way to see yourself with another's eyes, and a fantastic opportunity to change your self-perception.

When you receive a present unexpectedly do you clap your hands with delight and express heartfelt thanks?
Or do you view it with suspicion, wondering about an ulterior motive, and let it go by unacknowledged and unappreciated?

If there's a string attached then it's not a gift.
Gifts do not have motives. They do not expect something in return.
All a gift ever wants is to be accepted.

Have you ever rejected a gift because you felt like it "wouldn't be right"?

Have you ever rejected a gift because you didn't think you had anything to give in return?

Have you ever said, "But I can't take that from you," because you believed that in accepting it you were being selfish and were in some way diminishing the other person?

The truth about gifts, the true wonder and beauty of them, is that just by accepting them you are automatically giving back.

Remember well that:

In accepting a gift you are accepting love for yourself
AND giving love back to the giver.

The paradox of the gift is that the only way we ever take something away from the giver is by not accepting it. And of course we're taking away from ourselves at the same time.

You know the old saying "It's the thought that counts"? That really means, "It's the love that counts." Sure, other aspects of the gift can be valuable too, but it's the love that truly makes it precious.

A gift is love.

We all want to feel loved.

When you look you'll realise that we're all being gifted love many, many times every single day.

The question to ask yourself is, "Am I accepting it?"

Written by Lisa Frost
Absurdly Improbable
www.absurdlyimprobable.com