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Generous heart expresses gratitude By Sharon Johnson Jul 31, 2022 12:30 AM A A Please allow me a moment of nostalgia. It was 40 years ago, the first Christmas my husband and I celebrated that holiday together. We were staying in a cabin in northern Georgia, and there was an unanticipated light snow on the ground. We went for a wintry walk and returned to the cabin to make lentil soup and play Scrabble. He gave me seven presents that Christmas Eve, stating that each of the gifts represented or “spoke to” some part of me he loved. There was a book on feminist history, a Rainier Marie Rilke poem — framed as I recall — a new pair of Nike running shoes, a bag of Hershey’s Kisses, a recently published article on successfully raising a stepfamily, cream-colored lingerie ... or was it red ... well, you get the idea. It was one of the loveliest gifting moments I have ever experienced. And now, as our daughter is turning a slightly reluctant 50 years old, I want to gift her in a similarly thoughtful way. I have been reflecting on this idea for months and accumulating little presents I store away in a large, attractive, wicker basket that I feel assured she will place in her home office. She is a busy mom and a health professional with a lot of responsibilities, so I have been looking for gifts that will lead to her feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. I do not intend to spend a lot of money on them. As I recall my husband saying before he died. “You do recognize this gifting idea of yours could get a little out of hand.” I think I responded with, “Yes, dear, I do.” It has. I am reining it in, though. The best gifts I’ve found so far will go into a silky bag I discovered at Goodwill in which I have placed a large package of lavender Epsom salt, seven tiny rubber duckies and a hardly used, purple set of towels. I also got those at a nearby Goodwill store. And, yes, I washed the towels. In this same upcoming month, our granddaughter, Sarah, has a birthday. She turns 18. I do not intend to give her that number of gifts, but I have developed a list of 18 things her grandfather and I came to know and love about her over the years. Developing that list was, for me, its own gift. There also will be a gift of money, of course. And a colorful, handmade, embroidered, cotton cap I bought at the farmers market last Sunday. I know she will like it because she was previously there with me and picked it up and held it to her cheek. Gifting people delights me. I have a generous heart, and when people tell me that, it too is a gift. Despite my penchant for finding items that offer pleasure to the receiver, through the years I have concluded the best gifts are the gifts of time and talent. The gift of attention and a listening ear, a thoughtful word of affirmation, an honest reaction to a tough question, a condolence card or a thoughtful email. Over the past few months my readers have given that to me. Thank you. Sharon Johnson is a retired educator. Reach her at [email protected]