Giving

My nephew is a thoughtful gift-giver. Each year, he goes to Santa's Workshop at his school and picks out the most thoughtful gifts for everyone in our family. He gets so excited to watch everyone open their gifts.

He is allowed to purchase one gift for each of us (per the rules of Santa's Workshop). I remember how upset he was one year when he saw that the adults had purchased several gifts for one another. He wished he could have purchased several gifts for each of us, as well. He loves the act of giving and the act of choosing the perfect gift to suit that person.

This year, he was so excited to give me my gift. He told everyone to open their gifts first and said, "Aunt Tanya has to open hers last because it is the most perfect." He excitedly watched as I pulled away the paper to reveal a make-up set. He knows that I love my make-up and has me pegged as a girlie-girl.

As we proceeded to the adult gift opening, I realized that each of us had the same enthusiasm as my young nephew. Each of us were more excited to watch others open the gifts we thoughtfully purchased for them than we we were to open our own presents. The is such a sense of happiness and love that comes from the act of giving gifts to others. Maybe we should all carry the spirit of giving that seems to come so naturally at Christmas throughout the entire year.