I love gifts. But those that mean the most are heartfelt presents: the ones that have specific intent or special symbolism. I don’t appreciate gifts based on the amount of money spent on them. Actually, getting a bargain on a present makes it extra special to me. And I will flip if I know the present was hand made. I LOVE presents crafted by the person who gives them to me.
What makes homemade presents so special to me? There’s something behind the physical expression of love. Something that touches a part of me much deeper than any physical object could. Behind each present is the reason to give: the relationship behind the gift.
Today’s culture has become so obsessed with physical gifts that it has forgotten the reason behind giving. People go into debt to prove points about the abilities they have, compete to spend the most money, and leave the principle of true giving far behind in the dust of their selfish mindset. The end result: money is overrated when it comes to giving.
What if we spent time on each other instead? What if we recovered the simplicity of a gift that has been fashioned with our own blood, sweat, and tears? What if we widened our creativity? What if we focused on the relationship that allows us a reason to give rather than the gifts themselves? Spend time, not money.
Give simply, but pour your heart and soul into each little present. It’s not about the gift: it’s about the ties that bind the giver to the receiver. Focus your efforts on strengthening those ties of human connection: friendship, love, and kindness. Give yourself.