What's the best holiday gift? Take a peek! (image via CreativeCommons.org)
It’s not under the tree. It doesn’t matter your faith. You can’t get it at the store and there’s no sale flyer for it in the Sunday paper.
Curious yet? I’ll bet you are.
There aren’t any books written about it. My husband and daughters get it for me every year. You’d think I’d get tired of getting the same thing year after year, but I don’t.
Come to think of it, I’ve never seen it on a single store shelf, so I have no idea where they get it. And to be honest, they never bother to wrap it and they don’t put it under the Christmas tree. It’s okay, though. I really do love it and I could use my supply replenished each year and am really grateful for the gift and thought that goes into it.
Still curious? I hope so.
The best gift you can give or receive this holiday season is compassion. A deep breath when someone annoys you. A smile instead of a scowl for the crying baby on the plane (because believe me: it’s no picnic for mom and dad, either). It’s the change in your car’s console for the person on the corner at the intersection with a sign asking for help. It’s taking less and giving more. Laughing at your dog or cat when they do “that thing” instead of yelling.
My family gives this to me in spades each and every year and I’m truly grateful. I hope to have a neverending supply and above anything else under the tree, it’s the gift I look forward to the most.
Your action task for today is to give compassion. To anyone. And most importantly, yourself. I wish you and yours a joyous and safe holiday and look forward to hearing how it feels when you try compassion on for size.
