I recently had dinner at a couple’s home. The couple was celebrating the wife’s birthday.
“Hey,” exclaimed the wife. “Did you forget what day it is?“
Without looking up from his iPad, “No I did not. But Happy Birthday.“
“You get me a gift, a card or something?“
“Nope.“
“Why not?“
“Well,” he explained, “I’ve spent years getting you a gift, only to be told it cost too much, wasn’t you, there were other people who had less, I could have bought it cheaper elsewhere etc., etc. So I decided just to wish you a happy birthday.“
Miffed, she blurted, “Well, I got you a gift for your birthday several months back.“
“What gift?“
“The ‘Massage Envy’ gift card. You know, the one for $60.“
“Yeah, I remember. We purchased that at that charity auction for $20.00.“
“But,” interrupting him, “I gave it to you.“
In all our practicality, we’ve lost the art of gift giving. I personally feel more love can be exchanged when a gift is a true surprise. And thus, the reflection of the gift-giver and their relationship of grace to which one accepts the gift is just as important as that with which we give one. Are the gifts we give one another each day truly remarkable, truly enjoyable? It is an honor to give; an honor is reflected upon the giver, both by the receiver, and others.
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “The greatest gift is a portion of thyself.“