The grand privilege of giving
“It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding.” Kahlil Gibran
As we end this month, we head into the holiday season. Whether Christmas or Hanukah, a time of giving is around the corner.
In O’Henry’s story of the Gift of the Magi, a young man sold his watch to buy his wife lovely hair ornaments only to discover she had sacrificed her long hair to buy him a watch chain! And, in the story of the birth of Jesus Christ, we learn of the gifts brought to him by the three Magi.
One Christmas a long time ago, I witnessed a very special Christmas gift – also given unexpectedly to a young mother.
The girl came to work in the department store in late Spring. We had a good team on the home decorating floor. Our supervisor Victor was warm, funny and treated us well. The girl was very young – perhaps 20 – and pregnant. We soon realized that her baby’s father was not in her life. Kathy was very hard working, sweet tempered and kind to us all. Unfortunately, she seemed to be having a hard time with her pregnancy. Each time one of us entered the ladies’ room; she would be nursing her swollen ankles or rubbing her aching stomache.
Her baby was due to be born around Christmas. We worried about her but did not know how to help. Then, one morning, a Magi came into our lives. Victor handed Kathy a huge package wrapped in pink and blue paper.
“This is for you, Kathy. I think you might want to open it,” Victor said, smiling. We all gathered around. “It’s not mine; I never bought anything from here,” Kathy said.
“It was given to me to give to you and I was told never to tell you who gave it to me,” he said. We were delighted. We were part of a mystery. “Open it, open it,” we urged.
In it was a complete layette for a little boy. Nothing was missing. It held diapers, nightshirts, baby clothing, bonnets, booties, baby lotions… everything that would be needed. Kathy wept. We praised each item. Later, we delivered a pale green rocking chair to her tiny apartment . . . a gift from all of us. Kathy cried again – and then rocked and rocked with joy. Her son was born on New Year’s Eve. We all had an especially wonderful holiday season that year.
Meditation for the Day
What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal. Albert Pike
Action for the Day
This season, I’ll remember: Giving and taking are the two poles of generosity and caring. One way of giving is to help others; the other is to show a warm appreciation for the gifts offered to me, no matter how humble.
[ ]
Comments
Leave a Reply
