True Gifts have No Strings

I believe that true, real gifts have no strings attached, whatever the situation. In today's culture, I realised that presents can be wrought with all sorts of symbolism. But the adage that "It's the thought that counts" still rules, well at least to me. You see, because we were raised in a world in which getting stuffs is equated with love and security, we have made the politics of material exchange a bad policy. I believe that such is not the currency of love at all!

I admit that it is tempting to confuse the two. I am guilty of it in the past. The minute the gift has a hidden agenda it really is not a present. Those who are especially at risk for overruling or distorting the meaning behind a gift are those who were raised to see presents as rewards or love offerings. The focus that 'getting a gift means you have to reciprocate' is wrong.

In my conviction, the real thing in gift-giving is to communicate to your beloved that you thought about her intensely and carefully. It is like saying, "Hey, look how much I thought about you"! Therefore, the best gifts are those that communicate that thoughtfulness. The idea about giving a gift is that you've noticed, you've taken some trouble to do some research or you've been attentive to her interests.

In the end, a gift is only a symbol. The real sign of love is living generously and kindly everyday with the one you love dearly. That should be the gift.

It is in giving that we recieve;
in loving, been loved;
in serving, been served;
in blessing, been blessed.

Thank you, to all my good friends, for being such a gift to me...