Giving...

On Giving
 Kahlil Gibran

There are those who give little of the much which they have--and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.
And there are those who have little and give it all.
These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.
There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.
And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.
And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue;
They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.
Through the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.

I just love Kahlil Gibran's work.  For those of you who are not familiar, I encourage you to take a few moments out of your busy day, slowly read a few lines of his poetry and ponder his beautiful words.  My favorite is "The Prophet".  A true treat for your soul.  I especially love his thoughts regarding giving.  A good friend of mine recently surprised me with some very special vintage jewelry that belonged to a dear relative of hers who had passed away.  She has been supportive of my handcrafted jewelry endeavors and wanted me to have these special adornments for future creations.  What a thoughtful and unexpected treat!  The pieces I ultimately make with this lovely jewelry will always remind me of the priceless act of giving freely and without expectation of something in return; for that is what true giving is about!