As odd as this may sound, the best gift I have ever received resides in the utensil drawer in my kitchen. It didn't cost a fortune and it wasn't a difficult item to procure.
It was the gift of being heard, though to you it might only look like a stainless steel measuring cup. I can't remember if it was for Mother's Day or Christmas; the occasion really doesn't matter. I was a young mother just settling into my domestic role, a role which required (or so I once believed) the memorization of the recipe for chocolate chip cookies.
3/4 cup of white sugar and 3/4 cup brown sugar. My set of measuring cups jumped from 1/2 cup to 1 cup, so I had to measure my sugar with two different cups: 1/4 cup plus 1/2 cup. No big deal, of course, but I happened to mention my silly sugar measuring dilemma to my husband, and he, ever the problem solver, fixed my problem with a set of odd sized measuring cups.
During this season of giving and receiving, it is easy to be consumed by gifts. Thoughtful gifts require just that: thought. As I make my list and check it twice, I remember that the best gift I have received is the gift of two ears, listening; two eyes, seeing; one heart, loving. This I can give freely.
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He sees in me what I feel in myself.
What I feel is immeasurable.
6 comments:
<3 lovely.
of course, because i am me, i thought of the episode of seinfeld where elaine just wanted a bench for her bday. ;o)
Yes! This is really wonderful, Molly!
what everyone desires deep down... to be heard and understood. i love the thoughtfulness with which truly listening enables.
yes!
I love this. But I really want to know more about that mermaid.
She was also a gift! She's my favorite bottle opener, and I use her almost every day. With a flip of her tail, she opens up happiness.
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