GET INSPIRED : Celebrating Christmas with a gift

It has gotten to the extreme. Fury has taken the biggest part of him/her. The unconditional love was suddenly replaced by revenge and untold hate. Whenever they think about you, all they feel is absolute irritation and betrayal. Conflict sucks but it’s inevitable, the only saviour is the radiance in resolving it. Among the many ways of reviving broken relationships, gifts take the number one position. Doubtlessly, your endeavours to reconcile have been in vain. Why not try giving a gift? Though this festive season is famous for gift giving, few utilize the chance. “I am sure Jesus got gifts but his parents never went around giving gifts to their neighbours to celebrate his birth,” a friend usually tells me and those who care to listen. Gift giving especially during the Christmas season is often underrated or misunderstood. Many regard it a concern for the staunch Christians alone while others say it’s wastage of money. Meanwhile, gifts are a practical way to express care and love without saying much. A gift will communicate heartfelt thoughts for someone miles away; it will bridge the gap that distance puts between two people who truly care about each other. The magic that a gift brings melts even a little child’s heart. A world without tokens of appreciation [gifts] would completely be a bore. Work, home, school, name it, would be meaningless without that simple gift once in a while. A gift is something that is bestowed voluntarily and without compensation. Something meant to show friendship, support or affection. Gifts are all round and cover different corners of life. Gifts are given on funerals, to show support while they are as well ideal for weddings. As for this season, may gifts reach all the spheres of life. Let gifts make up for our past mistakes and reconcile us with beloved ones. Gifts can as well strengthen our relationships for they show others that no matter how hard we work, we still keep them at heart. And as we wrap that gift, not expensive gifts have the magic. Gifts come in varying shapes and sizes but they all, make the same impact. It might be a Christmas card or a dress. All that matters is the impact gifts make, not how fancy they are. Keeping in mind that gifts act as remembrance even when w e depart from the world, they are worth being on the Christmas shopping list. To the giver, a gift may not sound worthwhile but to whoever receives a gift, it brings abundant joy. All we should concentrate on is shopping for gifts that are worthwhile. Ones we would love to get back. And when considering people to give that gift too, discrimination shouldn’t be an option. Wrap a gift to your three year old daughter, the house girl, name it. “A giving heart, receives,” quotes the bible. So as you give that gift, wait with open hands to receive gifts and God’s blessings. Just rush to the next gift shop and get that gift. lillianean@yahoo.com