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It's that time of year again! The Christmas tree is up and decorated, and now it's time to surround the tree with gifts and for my blog post this week I'm simply mindful of the spirit of giving and gifting at this time of year. "You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give." Kahlil Gibran. Let's be mindful this year, in our Christmas practice of giving and gifting, to remember to give of ourselves to each other and the world. To give the truly worthy gift of our time, attention, regard, respect, care, compassion, love, and lovingkindness. To give and gift without regard for reward or getting something in return. To give and gift because giving puts grace and generosity out into the world. To give and gift because this is how we demonstrate our gratitude for the bounty of our blessings. To give and gift, simply because it gives us joy to do so. Let's give and gift this Christmas for no other reason than it is a human function of being and living to be giving and gifting of ourselves to each other and the world. "There are those who give little of the much which they have–and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome. And there are those who have little and give it all. These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty. There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward. And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism. And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue; They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space. Through the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth." Kahlil Gibran Hopefully as we practice this principle of giving and gifting of ourselves to each other and the world this Christmas we will develop the daily habit of doing so, and hopefully we will take this spirit of grace and generosity into the New Year and live this as a daily intention as if every day were Christmas. If Every day Were Christmas By James Dillet Freeman If every day were Christmas, how different life would be, if not one day but all the year were ruled by charity. Had we the faith in miracles a child has Christmas morn, each day would be love’s manger and Christ would be reborn in us again to change and heal our outworn wars and ways-– had we a child’s or shepherd’s gift for wonderment and praise! Yet every day is Christmas when we have learned to live by love’s law, learned not how to get but only how to give; and like a child can wonder and like a child can pray, but have the grown-up wisdom to give ourselves away. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!  For more detailed info on the lesson content of this blog or any other Unity Magna Ministries services contact Rev. Clive deLaporte at: admin@umagnam.org
Clive deLaporte Spiritual Director at Unity Magna Ministries UWM Ordained Minister & Licensed Teacher CSL Affiliate Minister IWA Integrative Wellness Life Coach |