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From our newsletter (Vol8No4):
GIFTS OF LOVE
Long, long time ago, in a country far,
far away, there was a very poor couple who had nothing very much.
However, they felt they had a lot because they loved each other
very much. What he loved most about her was her long blond hair.
He would watch the wind play with it when they went for a walk.
He would wrap it around his neck when they made love and buried
his face in the fragrance of her hair. How he would love to give
her the gold hair clip that she so wanted. Each time they passed
the jeweller's shop, she would steal a glance at it longingly.
Apart from his wife's golden tresses, he loved most was a watch
his father gave him. He would keep it in his pocket and occasionally
take it out to admire it. He would love to wear it but could
not afford to buy a chain to go with it.
How his wife would love to give him a golden chain so he could
wear it, she thought, each time she saw him caressed it and then
put it back into his pocket sadly.
Then on Christmas Eve, the wife had a brilliant idea. Desperate
to give her husband a wonderful present, she cut her hair and
sold it. With the money, she bought her husband the chain for
his watch. She tied a scarf to hide her shorn head, and after
finishing their simple Christmas dinner, she surprised him with
his present. She urged him to bring out his watch, but he shook
his head. He gave her a present instead. Opening it, she gasped
when she saw the hair clip from the shop. He had sold his watch
in order to buy his wife's present.
All of you must have heard some version of this story. For this
Christmas editorial, I remember this story and would like us
to contemplate the notion of gifts. How do we give? Some with
great love, others with duty and obligation, yet others do it
unthinkingly, hurriedly. The best gifts are those that come with
love. They are often chosen or made with thoughtfulness. One
Christmas, I decided to teach my family and friends about this
by insisting that I did not want anything bought but made. I
started sprouting seeds in plastic Coca Cola bottles in September
and by Christmas, everyone got seedlings of some sort. I wrote
stories for the children making them as the central characters.
Then each story was rolled into a scroll and tied with a ribbon
to save on wrapping paper. Another Christmas, I insisted that
all presents should be fifty cents only - that was a real challenge
even back in the eighties.
Gifts don't have to be bought or made. I asked for things to
be done for me that I don't like doing such as ironing - how
about a gift of 2 hours ironing every Christmas. A bit like a
gift voucher. If 12 friends or cousins would give me 2 hours
of ironing time I would have a years' clothes done in no time.
How about giving someone listening time? Most people need someone
to listen to them especially if they have a problem. Talking
to someone who really listens is a real gift. You go away lighter
after you have unburdened your heart. Or head for that matter.
So for this Christmas, don't worry about buying presents, spending
money and fighting the crowds, just sit somewhere quietly and
contemplate what you can truly give to someone with a lot of
love. Use the following list as a guide:
> What talents, abilities, etc that you have to offer? This
is a good one, as you really have to love yourself to recognise
your own talents. That is your Christmas gift to yourself. Another
question can be directed to the receiver of your gift? What does
the receiver need or want that money cannot buy? Could it be
a walk down memory lane? Some oldies in your life might want
a replay of a video or taken for a drive to a favourite place.
Let this Christmas be different - give someone you love your
time and the gift of your creativity.
Merry Christmas for 2000 and happy New Year for 2000
In Australia? |
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