"Take my Present Please"

            I believe people find it hard to receive; therefore they are more interested in giving than getting. We have been trained as children, and continue to believe as adults, that giving is good, but receiving is selfish.

            In the Gospels, it is written that it is better to give than to receive. But if people do not accept gifts, nobody can give! Since we receive God’s unconditional love, it is up to us to love unconditionally too, and this means being able to receive. If we truly love our neighbour as ourselves we must do what will make him happy. So we should follow the golden rule and “do unto others” by receiving gracefully and gratefully.

            It seems to be easier for people to receive at Christmas, but after the New Year people tend to go back to their old ways. Yet our need to give love, time and caring goes on the whole year round. So I think the greatest gift anyone could get would be the ability to receive things, especially LOVE.

            Taking things from people who are not very well off makes the recipient feel guilty, I think. People say things like “Oh you shouldn’t have!” and “Keep your money to buy something for yourself.” People tend to think that handicapped people shouldn’t buy things for others. If you take your purse out to pay for lunch; for instance, people will say “Put your money away, please” or “You can pay next time.”  But, the next time never comes.

            When people won’t take from me, I feel frustrated. Just the same, if someone more handicapped than I am gave me something, I would probably say “Oh, you shouldn’t have.” I would accept the gift, and I would be so touched I would probably cry.

            Much of the difficulty is caused by a lack of true communication. We need to talk about when it is our turn to give, and when it is our turn to receive. When I am out with friends we discuss this beforehand. I think we all should do this.

            There are times when someone really needs to give, and if they are not allowed to, it hurts. Handicapped people have something to give, and they should be allowed to give it!!