(Un)wrapping an (In)valuable Gift!

(Un)wrapping an (In)valuable Gift!

By: Cl. William David

            Who actually understands the value of a gift, is it the giver or the receiver? Jack gifts Jessie with a beautiful red rose one day, and surprises her with a gift of a diamond ring another day. What really matters here, is it a rose-or-diamond issue or the generous giving of Jack? The primary aspect is not what one gives, but the noble act that one gives. Both in a rose and in diamond, Jack just wrapped his love for Jessie. Now, it is up to Jessie to unwrap the value of love in it. It is the receiver who understands the worth of a gift, not the giver! Consider, the wonder done by Jesus, the receiver of five loaves and two fish from the little boy giving what he had. Think of the worth of the two coins offered by the widow in the temple. It is the reception that recognizes; it is acceptance that appreciates the gift. This is what a Noble Poet, Rabindranath Tagore splendidly puts, “Love’s gift cannot be given, it waits to be accepted.”

        

    As life, love is also all about giving and receiving. In giving one becomes a lover, in receiving one becomes a beloved. The gift of ‘I love you, My dear’ may mean nothing to one who resists to receive it; however, the non-reception, so-called ‘refusal, rejection, etc.’ Never ever reduce the value of the gift and the giver. A genuine giver, true lover loses nothing, but the receiver! Philosopher Bertrand Russell says, “Love is, above all, the gift of oneself.” Take, for instance, a day consists of sun’s giving light and moon’s reflection of that light. Love too consists in both giving and receiving. The more a moon receives, the brighter she shines! On the other hand, if she fails to receive and reflect, does the sun lose his light? Impossible! A wrapped gift is not known, unless someone unwrap it. The value of it is never in the wrapping but always in the hands of the one who discovers it. Dr. Leo Buscaglia, an American author (known as ‘Dr. Love’) also seems to come along the way, when he says, “Love is always bestowed as a gift – freely, willingly, and without expectation. We don’t love to be loved, we love to love.”

            The exciting things of life are ‘being surprised’, yet more enjoyable excitements are ‘making others surprised’. Hence, what is next?... Come on just wrap the gifts for people around, at the same time, please be keen and patient enough to unwrap the gifts that are actually around us, in and through people, nature and God. Only the eyes that look at you understand the value of your smile. It is love that makes life eternal, for the Dr. Love writes, “What love we’ve given, we’ll have forever. What love we fail to give, will be lost for all eternity.” No gift is so small. No love is so mean. Shall we value each gift and unwrap every love?