Cheryl, Thank you for the personal invite and yes, I am glad to participate, as you yourself have become a recent inspiration to me with all your words of wisdom, that have seemed to come from what I think is essential for this "spirit of giving" Jill speaks of, which is an open heart. Yes, I appreciate what Jill shared here:
The Spirit of Giving must never be allowed to fall to the level of a slogan on the back of a greeting card. It must be restored to its rightful place in life, among all cultures and people that make up Mankind.
Isn't it true that our faces and other's can often smile much bigger than what our heart is feeling, and it's almost embarrasing to be on the receiving end of "giving" when there is a sense that the genuine spirit of giving is missing. And many may feel insulted rather than entreated when giving seems to come only with the intention of some return for itself. Do we have time and room though in our busy lives and in our self focused pursuits, or are we willing to sacrifice a moment to open up our heart and share some real heart that may gain us no tangible return, just for the sake of giving something to someone else? Can we only be motivated by a self return in all we do? If so, we will probably never really gain the life we are trying to gain and may never really be able to receive what we cannot give. In order to give "with" the spirit which is giving, we must give from our heart, and in order to, our heart must be open or must open up if it is not, Amen?
Yes, I am glad and blessed by all who care to have an open heart and give something from it. Kim
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