Gifts are objects and experiences given to someone else for their enjoyment, use, and pleasure. Asking to receive something does not generally result in “a gift.”
Gifts is also a term for the talents and skills a person has developed in themselves. As in “her gift is mathematics” or “he is musically gifted” or “they are gifted as a project team to have all the needed skills to shine.” Some worship communities have surveys to help individuals identify their “service gifts” and to invite engagement in the community.
Gifts among my retired grandparent friends include taking one grandchild at a time on a “Grandma trip” to places or events the child has identified. Other grandparents are gifting their children and grandchildren by providing daily, weekly, or period care – giving parents the opportunity for some alone time; time to work; or time to spend without that child in the mix of other family members. Still other grandparents gift music lessons or art classes for a year.
Gifting takes many forms that can last a moment or a lifetime. A smile might be the momentary gift someone needs to get through a difficult day. A phone call might keep a home-bound person from feeling alone. A magazine subscription reminds the receiver on a monthly basis that you have thought of them.
A subscription to a GEM (gift every month) brings smiles for the receiver and anyone chosen to receive the give-it-forward gift too. Some people gift themselves with clothing through companies like Stitch Fix.
Making something for someone else is two gifts in one: the gift of your talents and heart turned into a tangible object that you gift-give to someone else. Several friends are masterful seamstresses and gift others regularly – including masks of late. Four friends are master gardeners and share tips, seeds, bulbs, and plant starts with me and each other.
Gifts in the yard right now include purple and white iris bulbs from two friends. Rhubarb from a neighbor a few springs ago is yielding stalks a plenty this year (see photo). Giant daisies and hollyhocks from another friend. Tiny daisies with lace-like light green leaves came from another neighbor. Five rose bushes came from a friend who was going to throw them away; I said I would take them for my yard!
Gifts often come wrapped. Anticipation creating added joy. Cards and/or gift tags often come attached to the gifts too. Whether a gift is wrapped or not, it really is the thought of another person and what might be enjoyed by that person that counts.
What gifts are you sharing with others?
Nesting is about the objects and experiences that create a sense of home. Without home, it is difficult to maintain health, find joy, or to be productive. Enjoy the Nesting series of blogs on your search for and creation of a deep sense of home. –Jana
