What Should I Give?

It is getting to the season where we think more about gifts. Sometimes we don't know 'what' to give to our coworkers, friends, those who help us out all year long (paper-delivery person) or even our loved ones.

Gift Giving Made Easy

Give to others because they need it, not because you need to provide it.

Sometimes we give gifts because it makes us feel good, not because we are giving someone what they really need. Most people have simple needs, whether they realize it or not. One thing we all have in common is the need to feel acknowledged and appreciated. This means we are understood. If you are a good listener, you will know what to give. The simplist, most thoughtful gift will be the most appreciated.

I recently had surgery and when I talked about it to my friends, I mentioned just how much I would love to have egg drop soup when I'm not feeling well. In fact, I mentioned it more than once. After surgery, someone very close to me offered to bring me something special, and brought me a couple cans of chicken noodle soup. I was appreciative, of course, but when I said that I was really craving egg drop soup, the reply was, 'oh, I didn't know you liked that.' The rest of the conversation was about his particularly bad day at work. The BIG GIFT I needed was simple acknowledgement. How often do we really give that gift to one another?

Prayer example for choosing the best gift for those we love:

Lord, please open my heart and my ears so that I may give the gift that _____ really needs from me. Release me from my need to provide this gift for any other reason. Amen

or repeat this mantra on every beads of your rosary or prayer beads:

I hear ___

Visit pray-with-beads.com and naturally-holistic.net for even more information