The focus of this prompt resonates well with how my day went yesterday and today. Even though I would always promote giving and gifting everyday anytime we can, it's an obvious fact that people get a little more generous at the end of the year to show their gratitude or acknowledge people who have been good to them. In that spirit, gifts seem like an easy means to show it.
Honestly, I'm not good at gifting someone but somehow I've received countless gifts that I can't hold back anymore from learning how to gift people as well. They say "We should do to others as we want them to do to us" and it applies in many ways including gifting. Once one have decided to gift, the next phase is "What to gift and how to gift it?" which is not an easy phase.
A week ago, my church members and I agreed to randomly pick ourselves to share gifts with each other in the coming week. The notice was short but everyone was excited about the idea so we progressed with it and I got picked by my mum while I picked someone I barely knew because we would only say "Hi" whenever service closes. Of course, I was glad I had someone to gift but...
What do I gift to him? What would make what I give to him a gift that he might find valuable? Now that I think about it and remember his face when he received the gift, I overthought about the whole thing that it was actually useless for me to worry about all that. You won't blame me, I didn't think I'd see such a facial expression when he had not even seen the kind of gift I got for him.
"It's not about the cost, it's about the intention"
I could have ended up spending all my money trying to find a gift that won't look cheap or regular, if not mum who said something that just made all the sense. "It's a gift, just have it in mind you're gifting, not looking for some compliments on how amazing your gifts is" I began search again, found something I think was perfect and went well with what I can give to a married he.
There are like a thousand gift ideas but even the most expensive gift can be devalued if it is given with no good intention or being given like a favour hoping for a return. I can't start listing out gift ideas but one I've seen that's so cheap but captivates the receiver's heart is, gifting "DIY" stuffs. I've seen it and I know I'll love it too, people value gifts made out of love and time.
The joy in giving is beyond the temporary joy in recieving (except on rare cases) but somehow we worry on what to gift and end up not gifting. It doesn't have to be cost for it to count or make someone's day. Like my friend said one time, it also doesn't have to be a physical or cash gift, words of encouragement or giving a helping hand is also a gift that anyone could find valuable.
This is my entry for Decemberinleo prompt and you're invited to join too, do share your thoughts as well.
Images are AI generated
