Gift…is there a better word?

I can tell you that the last two weeks have been all but a whirlwind. I got home tonight from my first day at my new salon. Pam and Lauren have done an amazing job with the limited time they have had and made this place so wonderful and inviting. They also know me. I hate change. So this move has shocked the hell out of a lot of people. Including me…. I loved my job and loved coming to work every day. Especially on days when I played country music. Lol. So for me to leave came as a shock to a lot of people. I knew though, in the place I was at, I needed a change. So today, I was greeted with the greatest welcome this morning and more surprises than I deserved. I mean like I said who doesn’t love a gift!!! I started reflecting on how many people have given me gifts over the years. From rings to honey pots🙄, I have gotten some of the best to the most bizarre gifts ever. Now I am a horrible gift receiver. I’m sure this comes as no surprise but I get awkward and don’t know what to do. The same goes with words of affirmation. Can’t take them and act so bizarre when I’m given one. Funny though… I love to give gifts and words of affirmation.

Last week I decided that I wanted to write my coworkers a letter to tell them what they meant to me and the impact they had on my life while I worked with them. I’m not telling you this to brag but the last salon I worked at for a long time I kind of went out on a bad note. (13 black 🌹). We have moved past that now but I never got to tell those people how much I loved working with them. I learned when I worked at the salon before Fringe that when you give someone something whether it be a word or gift you have to do it expecting nothing in return. Now is that easy.. heck no. Is it worth it.. absolutely. I can account numerous times when God “got” me so to speak. I had gotten a friend a gift because his mom passed away. I did a lot of research on it and I wanted it to be special. So when I presented him the gift he just said “Wow..thanks”. I have to admit, I was underwhelmed. I started thinking, I went to a lot of trouble for that gift and before I could start the pity party my mom said “Did you do it for him or for you?” I almost choked and she was right. I did it because I loved him. Of course I wanted instant gratification but that wasn’t the plan. Later that day, he pulled me aside and said you’ll never know what that meant to me. He said I had to step back or I was gonna lose it. I’ll never forget that moment but also had it never happened, I had already decided I did it for him.

I talk a lot about gifts bc they play such a big role in my life. My parents were givers and not just of monetary things but of their words and time. I had a situation recently where I was put in a place where I had to defend myself as a giver. Let me tell you this. Don’t ever let anyone stop you from giving. Don’t let them guilt you, make you feel weird or begrudge you for who you are!!’ If you want to give then give. Let those people walk out of your life.

Also I love this part… on a Monday you may give Mary a gift or a kind word and then God will send Jenny the next day with one better for you. You can’t out give God. I told you I wrote those letters. Not sure if everyone even read them but I know one thing. God sent me 3 letters before I left that let me know you can’t out give him. One came from Valerie. She has Down’s syndrome. The unconditional love she showed me in that letter is how she loves daily. That’s the kind of gifts money can’t buy. Bottom line when God gives you an opportunity,,, bless someone. They may say no at first but hit them with “Don’t block my blessing” and they really don’t stand a chance. Lol. I promise you the gifts I received today meant a lot but the words they said throughout today meant more..

I know I am not for everybody but if I love you then you better know I love you big. I’m gonna give you random gifts and am gonna tell you I love you a bunch. I am a lot and it’s ok. Took me 45 years to say that. You don’t like my words.. oh well they came from my heart. You don’t like my gifts then regift them.. I’ll never know. But know your best gift you can give someone is your time and your encouragement. I’m blessed to have so many people who give so much to me. So many I wish I could go back and thank for the season they poured into my life. Just be aware. Or try. Thank those who do acts of service for you or tell you they love you Even the ones who give you a “honey pot”.. (there’s a joke in there.)

Every person deserves your words. Or at least I think they do. So I’ll close this day up by saying… choose to be a giver. Don’t be stingy with your words, or your time. Oh and if you can’t buy someone a gift then make them something or uplift them. I promise you it will bless them and you may never see it but the blessing you’ll get… wow its far greater!!