The most creative gifts are the best loved of all. Just look at the innocently eager and expectant faces of your little ones when they give you a birthday card they made. Remember your grandma or grandpa who lovingly carved a piece of wood into the most exquisite little doo-dad just because you were there and they loved you.
Best Gifts
A Hand Made NeedleWork of Red Dragons by Grandma as a gift of Great Luck
There was this family friend whose grandmother was well known to be a very gentle and loving person. Financially, she wasn’t of any great means but it was always a very curious issue to many people, even the elders in the community that she was so well loved. In fact, people are often fond of relating the time when she gave this little thing or toy or sewn a little baby shirt for a child. These were all very modest gifts, but so well thought of and remembered. In fact, the day and date are often recorded and remembered in conversations even after her passing.
Is this really true? But some people do beg to differ. The best gifts according to one may be different to another depending on perspective and impact.
Here’s a contrasting story.
I remember this lucky kid I grew up with. The whole neighbourhood nicknamed him ‘Lucky’ because of how his family dotes on him. He got a Ferrari for his 21st birthday. If he’s a petrol head, yes, you bet he’d be up among the clouds in joy, which he was. His family certainly took great care in getting him his great desire. This car was given with carefully judged perspective and had a great impact upon the receiver. Needless to say, it was very well done. In fact, it appeared that this car was given with care and even love. However, will this gift mean the same or even more down the road, many years from his 21st birthday? Time will tell.
The Creative Gift
Lucky's Ferrari Gift
To my mind, the creative gift is more memorable than anything bought off a store no matter how expensive it may be. You see, you can make a comparison saying that so and so spent a million bucks for that car or jewellery. Then compare that to your 3 year old making that birthday card for you. She took many hours or perhaps days of her very short and precious life to make that card based on love and appreciation. She offered you her love and all that she could muster into that creation. It was all that she is and has been given to you with everything she knew about gift giving and love. What will you choose to remember more?
Compare the gift of a dying grandparent giving all his assets to you (you lucky person) the only surviving relative he loves. Yes, you are all stunned and grateful to this ever loving grandpa! But then, one day, he spent many of his last precious days making with his hands a figurine meant specifically for you. It was so incredibly delicate and beautiful. It was obvious where his head and his heart were at for you. Now, if you could, would you give him all that money back and keep that figurine and granddad around instead? What was the emotional impact would that have on you? Your memories of grandpa would last till the day you pass on. In fact you are very likely to pass on the message he had for you.
Fondest Memories Live On
I would really have to say this: as time goes on, it’s the memories and the meaning or let’s say that it’s the vibes of the gift giver to the intended person that means the most.
The memories attached to the gifts are what really matters most of all. What was given often has that initial impact. In fact, in matters not what the size of the gift might be. It really is the intention and the meaning of the love that the receiver knows about is the biggest gift of all.
The memories live on long after the event of the gift giving and receiving.
So, upon the holiday gift giving times like Christmas or birthdays or Kwanza or Chinese New Year or whatever festivities it may be, make it a gift of love and lasting fond memories.
