Giving vs Gaining

Next week, millions of items will be wrapped, placed under a tree, have the paper ripped off of them and thrown in a pile to be considered later. Some are kept for a while, some are kept forever and many are thrown out the next week. Gifts. Gifts that are supposed to be given in a spirit of love.
So do we give gifts in the Christmas season from a heart of love, or
has it become a tradition? I'm not going to go into that. I have a feeling it could get complicated and possibly controversial.
Our family has never been big on Christmas. If we visit our Grandma H around Christmas, we do Christmas. If we don't, we don't. But as a kid, the years that we did go to Grandma's were THE BEST! We'd arrive and straight away we'd want to set up the delaptated old christmas tree. We knew that Grandma had had it since before Mum was a kid, but that didn't matter to us. Nor did it matter that half of the branches were broken and some of the mounts missing. Every time we set it up we'd have to get Grandma to show us how again (the instructions had been missing for years. Once it was up we'd argue over decorating it with the decorations that were just as old. The tinsel was perished and shed glittery plastic stuff everywhere but no matter, we thought the effect was beautiful. Then the moment came when I, as the oldest, was allowed to switch on the lights. (Phew, they came on again this year.) What a beautiful sight! We'd stand mesmerised - for a minute or two - and then we were off to collect the presents. Once they were under the tree we really were mesmerised and we couldn't wait till we could rip that paper off and see what we GOT.
This Christmas, we're not doing presents. (GASP! Not doing PRESENTS!?!?!?! It's ok. We'll survive. Trust me.) We may dig out a small 'christmas tree' (a poor little plant out of Mum's collection) and we strung up the 4 or so Christmas cards in the window (just to plague Dad) and we'll probably end up having a 'BBQ' in the back yard with a bunch of random wonderful people.

But this Christmas season, despite the handicaps, I have experienced again the blessing of giving. Really, it has nothing at all to do with Christmas, just so happened that it happened at this time of year.
Our gorgeous neighbours just had a baby girl. The baby was induced 3 weeks early due to doctor's concerns for her well-being. Mama went in to hospital and Daddy followed the next morning to be by her side during labour. The three older kiddos were left in Mum's and my care. What a chore! NOT! I absolutely adore those three kids and we had so much fun together. Daddy was away for the whole of Wednesday, Wednesday night and most of Thursday. And sometime in there, the new baby sister was born.
When Daddy got home, he was exhausted and kiddo number 2 was sick and kiddo number 3 was missing her Mummy terribly! Poor Daddy was a bit run down so we told him not to worry about meals for Friday lunch and Sabbath lunch. We just prepared a little extra - no problems. Then Friday evening we took the two older boys while Daddy and kiddo number 3 went in to visit Mama and Bubba. (No, the baby doesn't have a name yet :D)
To cut a long story short, we've been providing a main meal most days in the week that has passed and I've been taking the kids for a few hours each day. Monday Mum and I got to go shopping for tiny baby clothes for the New One (00000 size is SOOOOO cute!!!) and while we let Mama pay us back for some, some of them I just had to make a gift of.
I'm not writing this to brag with. To me, I've done nothing special. I love the kids so baby sitting was easy. I love cooking and we already cook for 8 or 9 or 10 so adding another cup to the pot isn't a big

deal. And baby shopping! I LOVED it! (It probably wasn't good for me.... I'm so clucky now!) In fact, I'll let you in on a secret. Tuesday morning I was praying in my morning devotions and I found myself thanking God that I was able to do the baby shopping and give the baby and mother a gift.
Yesterday I took lunch down for the family and I was absolutely blessed by the appreciation of the Mummy and Daddy. I tried to shrug it off because it's no big deal to me. It's my job as a neighbour right? But to them it is an awesome blessing.

And that is why giving is so much more awesome then receiving!

Four Reasons It Is More Blessed to Give then to Receive

1. Consider your privileged position. If you are in the position to give, it means God has blessed you with something to give.
2. Joy and Glory. When you give, consider the domino effect of joy and glory. Your gift doesn't only affect the benefactor but it affects you as well.
3. The Reality of Jesus' Response to our Giving. "Well done, good and faithful servant..."
4. It reflects the Son of God. When we give, to the glory of God and for the good of others, we can see the image of Christ being increasingly formed in us.

http://www.lifeinchristministries.com/blog/why-is-it-more-blessed-to-give-than-to-receive/

It's very rare for me to get warm fuzzies and that good feeling when I get given something. More often if it's a kind word or a thoughtful hug, but that feeling fills my heart EVERY time I get to give something to someone to make them happy. I've often said that if I had allot of money (which I don't) I'd buy people flowers right and left and give people gifts all the time. Maybe it's a good thing I don't. Maybe I would begin to take giving for granted. But I don't think so. God has placed that desire and 'warm fuzzies' deep down inside us.