Giving

Christmas time is coming so I thought I would talk about giving. I always hear around this time of year that giving is better than receiving, or something along those lines. Why? I thought about why giving is better than receiving. When I receive gifts, I feel happy and special. I'm getting something that I want, or even need. Receiving seems like a good thing, because you get something you don't have to pay for. Giving doesn't seem as good as receiving, and definitely not better. So I wondered why we tell people that giving is better. Is it because we want them to give us stuff? Maybe, but that's not what I think is the reason. Obviously there are many good reasons to receive, as I mentioned before. But what is so great about giving? I think giving is a way to show our appreciation for what we have. If you have even considered giving something to somebody, you probably have the means to buy that something. Be thankful for having those means. Not everybody gets the chance to have the money that you might have, so be thankful. Appreciate what you have, and give. How does giving show appreciation? If you give something to someone, you probably love them, or at least like them. You can show that by giving them something. A gift is a way to express how you feel about someone. When a man wants to get married, he gives a ring to his fiancee, or a gift, to show his love for her. Giving is a way to show someone you appreciate them. I think it goes deeper than even that though. If you constantly receive and never give, you become very selfish and spoiled. You become attached to getting things, and then get greedy. These of course are qualities nobody likes in others. People who constantly receive only think of themselves and what they can get from others. They think by receiving their life will get better, but in reality it won't. When you give you create qualities in yourself that will benefit your life. People who give realize that what they have is enough and giving to others is just a way to express their thankfulness. People who give help others who might not be as fortunate as they are. People who give can create happiness in other people who they give to. People who give realize that perhaps the world is about more than just them-self. People who give realize that their purpose in life is not to have everyone give to them, but is something more than just receiving. This holiday season I encourage that we give to others as a way to be thankful for what we have.
-Smart