Giving gifts is a show of love andaffection, as well as a form of appreciation.
I also saw my parents visit people and
never went empty handed, there must be something to give their host be
it; a bottle of wine, red oil, gallon of honey, crate of malt, cartons
of biscuit, fruits, cash gift in an envelope, fabrics, tubers of yam,
even already cooked local delicacy well packaged etc. There must be a
gift to accompany such visits.
We were taught to never visit people
empty handed. We must visit people with something, no matter how little.
I always get material gifts from friends, family and well wishers as
well. Some of these gifts are very expensive, some are cheap but you
cannot imagine the effect it has on me till date.
When I got my first car about a decade
ago, my kid sister gave me a gift, although she didn’t exactly hand me
this gift directly. She woke up one early morning and decided to wash my
car for me. When she was done, she placed the gift in the car. I still
appreciate that gift till today.
She gifted me a car towel she bought for
N500. Whenever I pick up this towel to clean my car, I remember her
kindness with a smile and this car towel went with me everywhere so long
as I am in the car.
Another gift that has also stood out and
which I deeply appreciate is a N100 Compact Disc (CD plate) a friend
gave me on my birthday. Whenever I play it, it calms me down and speaks
directly to my soul.
There are gifts that are better
experienced than giving material objects. For example, when my younger
sister got her first car, every early morning, I wake up to wash my own
car, I wash hers as well. It is a form of gift though rendered as
service.
All I am saying in essence is you must
not break a bank to give gifts, the heart and thought behind the gift is
what really counts. A bottle of wine (alcoholic or non-alcoholic),
handkerchiefs, CD plate which could be a selection of the person’s
favorite songs, car shiner, and wall clocks are good gift ideas.
Others are; picture or wall frames, food
packs, fruits, cakes, cookies, books, foot mat, rendering a helping hand
without asking for anything in return etc are all forms of giving gifts
to someone you love and care for.
What you give may be little or
insignificant to you, but to the receiver it is the best gift ever.
Total monetary value may be zero, and yet could be one of the most
thoughtful gifts they have ever received.
Like those two gifts of a car towel and
CD plate that mean more than words to me, it doesn’t matter that I can
afford them a million times.
Most times it is not the gift, but the
thought and efforts that matter most. Think about your gift carefully.
Gifts don’t have to cost you much and they can even be free, or close to
it. Sometimes it’s the little things we do that mean so much.
Giving is one of the ways to show love.
Give gifts to those who can or cannot afford it, be nice to everyone
even if you cannot afford to give them material gifts.
There are many ways to show love even to
people you have never met before. Visit the sick in hospitals; settle a
random person’s hospital bill. You can walk into any school to pay an
indigent student’s school fees. Feed the hungry, provide them
accommodation, and visit orphanages to teach them a craft for free or
donate cash or food items to them. Protect the aged and vulnerable
around you.
Give cheerfully, with no ulterior motive,
not to impress, it’s a sign that you really care. If you can afford the
big gifts and your spirit is willing and not out of compulsion, then do
it.
It’s the season of love, show love to
your gateman, house keeper, staff, children, spouse, brothers, sisters,
neighbors in the manner you speak or approach issues that concern them.
Treat them with dignity and respect, that’s how to show love as well.
The world needs more love in words, in
kind and in gifts to be a better place. Don’t stop showing love for no
man is too poor when it comes to giving. And never look down on any
man’s gift be it material or immaterial.
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