Better to give than receive?

This was written by Dave Pratt of Ranch Management Consultants in a newsletter that we receive. I thought it was timely and well-said.

The Bible tells us that it is better to give than to receive. Giving of ourselves isn't just the right thing to do, it makes us feel great. We get a wonderful feeling when we give or do something that makes someone else happy or helps them with a problem. There's no doubt that giving is good.

But while we have been taught that it is nobler to give than to receive since childhood, I think it is also noble to receive. How would we feel if a person to whom we are giving said, "I don't like this," or "I already have one." If someone pays you a compliment and you respond with, "It was nothing" or "No, it really wasn't that good," deflecting their compliment also deflects the joy of the giver, because the compliment wasn't fully accepted. Rather than deflecting or diminishing the message, what if we responded, "Wow, thanks. That really means a lot to me."

Sometimes receiving is even better than what passes for giving! Giving with the expectation of getting something in return or making someone feel guilty isn't really giving at all. It is emotional blackmail.

We are rotten receivers. Many of us are uncomfortable with compliments. We feel that we should get everyone a gift who gives us a gift. We are so uncomfortable receiving that even when we desperately need help, we are reluctant to ask for it.

This Christmas there will be a lot of giving, and therefore there will be lots of receiving. Focus on being a good receiver. Let the gifts, especially the emotional gifts of love, kindness and support, have their full impact so that the giver can experience the full joy of giving.