The Gift

Details

Created on Saturday, 01 January 2011 00:00

Written by Richard Chidlaw

Now, surely, is the time to write about Presents! Not because of "shopping early for Christmas," but because the problems of giving and receiving are fresh in our minds. John Betjeman reminds us of the

"Bath salts and inexpensive scent
And hideous tie, so kindly meant."

and it may be that there are many things we might have wished that we had not been given; but, much more so, what we might be very grateful for, but have no room for.

Quite a few people of my acquaintance are now aware that they have already far too much in their homes and it is time to be relieving themselves of the burdens of possessions. It is not that they are very wealthy, but just that you can have too much of a good thing. How do you give and receive to show appreciation of others, without adding to their mountain of belongings? The obvious way is to give a card which indicates what present you have bought in their name, but given to someone else.

There are many charities, like Oxfam, which allow you to "buy" all sorts of things: fresh water, school meals, books, health care, farm animals and agricultural goods -and to send a card to your loved ones, indicating what has been bought on their behalf. If giving a present is all about the "feel good factor" then this is useful to you and to those who receive (-and to those unknown people who receive, in their real need, something which we, in the West, have come to take as our rights).

But -everyone needs to be aware of what is going on and that is why I suggest that January is a time to think about it, discuss it with your friends and relatives and plan it -for next year. Christmas can then be a time of distributing gifts which really will make a difference.

We think of Christmas as a time for presents, when it has not been a custom for that long. We are aware of the rich and bejewelled gifts that members of the Tudor Court were obliged to give to one another on New Year's Day. Customs such as the good wishes of the 5t Briavels Gift and the Welsh Calennig were about hope for the future, also associated with the beginning of a new year.

Perhaps it is because Epiphany, as a church season, has been largely ignored, that the gifts of the wise men have been moved to Christmas in the popular imagination.

What would you like people to give you, that would make all the difference to your life? So many things which we really need, rather than want, no one has the power to give. However,
many things of no value are, as we know, priceless and so come within our ability to distribute daily. Things which improve the quality of life and enhance "Good Neighbourhood" (as the castings on church bells made clear) are worthy of consideration by all.

In assessments to be made of school children, those who were still on the way to achievement, rather than being graded at present as failures, were assessed as "working towards". It is education jargon, but it is constructively mobile. In your assessment of where you would like to be this time next year, consider a goal, how you might work towards it and what you will need to be given to do so. Asking God for guidance in this respect is only sensible for He is the most generous of givers.

(And is said to love those who give cheerfully!)

Happy 2011!
Richard Chidlaw